The relationship between multiple leaders and mechanical and frost damage to the apical meristem of Scots pine seedlings

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Abstract
The responses of young Scots pine seedlings to mechanical apical meristem damage before and after 4 nights exposure to minimum night temperatures of −2.2 and −6.7 °C in controlled environment growth chambers were compared with control seedlings that were subjected or not to apical meristem damage and exposed to a minimum night temperature of 12 °C. The feeding damage caused by Lygus bugs was simulated by piercing the apical meristem of young pine seedlings with a hypodermic syringe needle and injecting a small drop of distilled water into the wound. At −6.7 °C increased numbers of dead seedlings were found. The proportion of seedlings with multiple leaders greatly increased after piercing, and about half of the seedlings subjected to the apical meristem damage had multiple leaders. The proportion of seedlings with multiple leaders and the number of leader shoots per seedling did not differ among seedlings subjected to apical meristem damage before or after the frost exposure. Short and twisted primary needles occurred in the basal parts of the new shoots in the seedlings with multiple leaders. Seedlings with necrotic needles were most often found after exposure to the night temperature of −6.7 °C. Shoot dry weight and length were significantly lower in seedlings subjected to apical meristem damage after frost exposure than in seedlings subjected to apical meristem damage before frost exposure or to no frost exposure. The results suggest that an increased reduction in growth is to be expected if Lygus bug attacks occur on pine seedlings that already suffer from frost injury.