Growth Responses of Rooted Cuttings from Five Clones of Picea abies (L.) Karst. after a Short Drought Period

stress may be a problem during the establishment of a forest plantation, and a drought affect both root and shoot growth of newly planted seedlings. Rooted cuttings of five clones of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] were studied in a well-watered and in an environment with a 5-day drought period. The study was performed an intermittent aeroponics system in a controlled environment chamber. During the the root elongation was reduced to 1 mm day^-1 compared with 3 mm day-¹ in the treatment, but no significant reduction in shoot elongation was registered. days after rewatering, the root elongation of drought-treated plants had recovered At the end of the study, the increase in root length for the measured period did differ significantly between treatments, whereas the leading shoot length and biomass were in well-watered plants. The five clones, which had been selected for fast growth, similarly to the drought treatment and no interaction between clone and drought was In conclusion, drought affected the root growth directly, whereas the shoot growth was affected. This may reduce future growth as a result of a smaller leaf area and thereby a less assimilate production.