Importance of crown architecture for leaf area index of different Populus genotypes in a high-density plantation
Abstract
Crown architecture is an important determinant of biomass production and yield of any bio-energy plantation since it determines leaf area display and hence light interception. Four Populus genotypes-of different species and hybrids and with contrasting productivity and leaf area-were examined in terms of their branch characteristics in relation to crown architecture during the first and second growing seasons after plantation establishment. The trees were planted at high density (8000 ha(-1)) on two different former land use types, cropland and pasture. We documented significant differences in branch architecture among the genotypes and for the first year among the former land use types. Land use effects only affected factors not related to canopy closure and wood production, and decreased after the first growing season. This suggested that both former land use types were equally suited for the establishment success of a poplar bio-energy plantation. Tree height and branch dimensions-branch diameter and branch length-were the most important determinants of wood production and maximum leaf area index. Despite the secondary importance of the number of sylleptic branches, these branches contributed significantly to the total leaf area in three out of the four studied genotypes. This indicated that enhanced syllepsis accelerates leaf area development and hence carbon assimilation, especially in the early stages of a high-density plantation with poplar.
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Many tree species of the temperate regions form exclusively proleptic branches, but some genera like Populus, Prunus, Alnus, Larix, and Tsuga can also grow sylleptic branches.
“Many tree species of the temperate regions form exclusively proleptic branches, but some genera like Populus, Prunus, Alnus, Larix, and Tsuga can also grow sylleptic branches (Broeckx et al., 2012).”
From Shaping plant architecture (2015) · cites this paper as Broeckx et al., 2012
In fruit and timber trees, the degree of branching is economically important, and leaves of branches contribute to the specific leaf area index which significantly affects photosynthesis rate.
“In fruit and timber trees, not only the branch angle, but also the degree of branching is economically important. The leaves of branches contribute to the specific leaf area index which significantly affects photosynthesis rate (Broeckx et al., 2012).”
From Shaping plant architecture (2015) · cites this paper as Broeckx et al., 2012
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- Authors
- Broeckx, L. S., Verlinden, M. S., Vangronsveld, J., & Ceulemans, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Hasselt University (BE)
- Venue
- Tree Physiology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2012-09-28
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1214-1226
- ISSN
- 0829-318X (ISSN-L)
- 1758-4469
- OpenAlex
- W2132311775
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 8
- FWCI
- 9.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Tree Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Document Server@UHasselt (UHasselt) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission (233366, 2007–2013, FP7 2007-2013, FP7/2007)
- Universiteit Antwerpen (FP7/2007-2013)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Forest ecology and management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
- Keywords
- crown architecture, leaf area index, high-density planting, syllepsis, branch architecture, timber production, tree height, canopy closure, light interception, carbon assimilation
- MeSH terms
- Belgium, Genotype, Light, Seasons, Trees, Plant Leaves, Biomass, Plant Stems, Populus
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