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<p>Natural regeneration of <i>Quercus petraea</i> is often inferior in height growth compared to shade-tolerant companion species. As a result, frequent removal of competing vegetation is typically required to promote <i>Q. petraea</i> for successful regeneration. Here we examined whether differences in species’ biomass allocation, biomass density, and total leaf area are responsible for inferior competitiveness of <i>Q. petraea</i>. For this purpose, 37 four-year-old <i>Q. petraea</i> seedlings and 15 and 17 seedlings of the shade-tolerant <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> and <i>Carpinus betulus</i>, respectively, were excavated along a radiation gradient within a mixed <i>Q. petraea</i> forest. Solar radiation above each seedling ranged from 1 to 70% of open field conditions. Annual shoot lengths and total heights of <i>F. sylvatica</i> and <i>C. betulus</i> were higher than in <i>Q. petraea</i> across the radiation gradient. Total biomass was comparable among the species at any level of radiation, but aboveground woody mass fraction in <i>Q. petraea</i> (34%) was always significantly lower than in <i>F. sylvatica</i> (47%) and <i>C. betulus</i> (52%), while its root mass fraction was significantly higher at 47% compared to 34% and 26%, respectively. At the same time, <i>Q. petraea</i> had a significantly lower average height-to-root collar diameter ratio (56) than <i>F. sylvatica</i> (71) and <i>C. betulus</i> (105). In contrast, biomass density of <i>Q. petraea</i> roots and shoots was significantly higher than in <i>F. sylvatica</i> and <i>C. betulus</i>. Owing to different biomass allocation patterns between <i>Q. petraea</i> and companion species, there are no light levels at which <i>Q. petraea</i> regeneration does not require control of competition to survive.</p>

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Competitive disadvantage of Quercus petraea seedlings in mixtures with Fagus sylvatica and Carpinus betulus can be explained by different biomass allocation patterns

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月13日

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  • Tobias Modrow,
  • Patrick L. Pyttel,
  • Friderike Beyer,
  • Ulrich Kohnle,
  • Jürgen Bauhus

摘要

Natural regeneration of Quercus petraea is often inferior in height growth compared to shade-tolerant companion species. As a result, frequent removal of competing vegetation is typically required to promote Q. petraea for successful regeneration. Here we examined whether differences in species’ biomass allocation, biomass density, and total leaf area are responsible for inferior competitiveness of Q. petraea. For this purpose, 37 four-year-old Q. petraea seedlings and 15 and 17 seedlings of the shade-tolerant Fagus sylvatica and Carpinus betulus, respectively, were excavated along a radiation gradient within a mixed Q. petraea forest. Solar radiation above each seedling ranged from 1 to 70% of open field conditions. Annual shoot lengths and total heights of F. sylvatica and C. betulus were higher than in Q. petraea across the radiation gradient. Total biomass was comparable among the species at any level of radiation, but aboveground woody mass fraction in Q. petraea (34%) was always significantly lower than in F. sylvatica (47%) and C. betulus (52%), while its root mass fraction was significantly higher at 47% compared to 34% and 26%, respectively. At the same time, Q. petraea had a significantly lower average height-to-root collar diameter ratio (56) than F. sylvatica (71) and C. betulus (105). In contrast, biomass density of Q. petraea roots and shoots was significantly higher than in F. sylvatica and C. betulus. Owing to different biomass allocation patterns between Q. petraea and companion species, there are no light levels at which Q. petraea regeneration does not require control of competition to survive.