Department of Forest Products Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni-Solan 173 230
One year old seedlings of Acacia catechu Willd. were root pruned at 5 and 10 cm length from collar region before planting in the field and were analyzed for predawn xylem water potential, white root regeneration, total soluble sugar, starch, total carbohydrates content and survival percent. Root pruning decreased xylem water potential and white root regeneration. During monsoon planting, seedlings root pruned at 5 cm showed increase in total soluble sugars, starch and carbohydrates in comparison to 10 cm and unpruned seedlings. During winter planting, these reserves increased in 10 cm pruned seedlings than 5 cm pruned ones. Survival percent also decreased with increase in root pruning severity in both planting seasons. Winter transplants showed lower survival per cent than monsoon season.
Root pruning, xylem water potential, total soluble sugars, starch, carbohydrates, survival percent
