Acclimation of cuttings from different willow genotypes to flooding depth level

DOFFO GUILLERMO; LUQUEZ VIRGINIA MARTHA CRISTINA; RODRÍGUEZ MARÍA EMILIA; CERRILLO TERESA

NEW FORESTS

SPRINGER

Año: 2018 vol. 49 p. 415 - 427

0169-4286

Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme rain events, causingmore flooding episodes. Willows are usually planted in marginal lands like flood prone areas. For willow plantations developed from rootless cuttings, the establishment phase is crucial, because the cuttings are still developing a shoot and root system and have a higher vulnerability to stress. A flooding episode during this early period may have a negative effect upon plants. We analyzed the responses to flooding of eight willow genotypes, representingimportant species from the economic and ecological point of view (Salix alba, S.matsudana, S. amygdaloides and S. matsudana × S. nigra hybrids). The treatments started when the plants were 2 months old and lasted for 3 weeks. They were identified as: Control (watered to field capacity); F10 (plants submerged 10 cm above soil surface) and F50 (plants submerged 50 cm above soil surface). The F50 treatment showed a greater growth reduction than the F10 treatment in most clones, either measured in height, diameter or total biomass. Both flooding treatments reduced significantly the root-to-shoot ratio compared to control plants. The F50 treatment increased the leaf nitrogen content and specificleaf area in all genotypes. Both treatments changed plant and leaf traits in different ways according to the depth of the floodwater. These changes may have lasting effects on growth recovery in the post-flooding period. Willow clones with a fast initial growth will be the best option to minimize growth reduction in areas prone to experience flooding episodes.