Effects of low temperature and light treatment, following winter cold storage, on starch accumulation in Scots pine seedlings

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Abstract
To increase the amount of starch reserves, 1-year-old Pinussylvestris L. seedlings were conditioned in a climate chamber at +5 °C with irradiance of different levels, following thawing from cold storage at −5 °C. Exposure to the conditioning climate was for 0, 1, or 2 weeks, after which the seedlings were transferred to an artificial "summer" climate (25/15 °C, day/night, respectively). The variations in starch concentration of roots and needles were followed during the experimental period. During the conditioning period, starch concentration increased in roots as well as in needles. The result indicated that starch accumulated only in presence of light. Two weeks of treatment with a photon flux density of about 140 μE•m−2•s−1 resulted in starch concentrations comparable with those found in trees during a normal spring in nature. After removal of the seedlings to artificial "summer" climate, the starch reserves of the roots decreased quickly, while the levels of the needles continued to increase to a final maximum value. When seedlings without low temperature and light treatment were placed in "summer" conditions, the starch level increased in the needles but decreased in the roots. The dry-weight determinations showed that growth was not affected by the conditioning in low temperature and light.

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