Soil metal effects on the germination and survival of Quercus alba L. and Q. prinus L

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany 1991-04, Vol.31 (2), p.145-152
• Main Authors: Bell, R., Teramura, A.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/0098-8472(91)90065-V

Acorns of Quercus alba and Q. prinus were collected from a forested site in southcentral Virginia naturally enriched in Pb, Cu and Zn, and from an adjacent (control) site with normal levels of these metals in the soil. The acorns were germinated in a two (collection site) × two (metal treatment) × two (species) factorial treatment CRD to assess the relative importance of site of collection vs soil metal application in the two species. Metal treatment consisted of 160 ppm Cu, 200 ppm Pb and 380 ppm Zn on a soil weight basis. Acorns were examined for germination and survival after 69 days ( n = 1512). Germination was depressed by metal treatment only in Q. alba acorns from the control site. Metal treatment significantly lowered survival in all seedling groups ( P < 0.0001). Selective pressure associated with soil heavy metals occurred more strongly at the seedling stage rather than during germination. Existence of metal treatment associated selective pressure at early growth stages suggests that results from physiological comparisons of soil metal effects on in situ vs laboratory populations treated at later growth stages should be interpreted and compared with some degree of caution.