Abstract
Photosynthetic and transpiratory performance of current-year seedlings of Q.serrata germinated on a natural regeneration site by the mother tree method were examined in relation to meteorological condition and ground treatment by a small sized-excavator. The photoinhibition of photosynthesis was not observed for the current-year seedlings irrespective of their growth sites. Light saturated photosynthesis rates (Pmax) of the current-year seedlings on the reproduction site were three or four times larger than those under the canopy. Decreased stomatal conductance (gs) was observed during daytime for the current-year seedlings on the regeneration site, but the degree of decreasing was not so remarkable. The ground treatment increased bulk densities of surface soil about 20 to 40%. The current-year seedlings of treatment plot had larger leaf mass per area and smaller Pmax than those of non-treatment plot. However the daytime gs level was kept higher for the current-year seedlings of treatment plot. Therefore, there were no significant differences in seedling growth between treatment and non-treatment plots. These results demonstrate that the current-year seedlings of Q.serrata acclimate themselves well to high light and drought conditions and have certain tolerance to the soil compaction.
