TREE Fund

Tree Research & Education Endowment Fund

2007 Grant Research Archive John Z. Duling Grant 

Assessing Field Level Cold Tolerance in Improved Genotypes of Taxodium distichum Tolerant of Alkaline Soils and Drought

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2007 | Michael Arnold, Texas A&M

Taxodium distichum is an adaptable tree species for landscape use, tolerating both wet and dry soils and air pollution (Cox and Leslie, 1988, Wasowski and Wasowski, 1997).  Watson (1983) reports tolerance of varying nutrient availability status, a wide range of soil aeration, and moderately high pH’s.  It is fast growing, has reliable feathery foliage, and a nice form (Cox and Leslie, 1988; Arnold, 2002).  Two varieties, var. distichum (baldcypress) and var. imbricarium (pondcypress, Taxodium ascendens), have fairly good fall color, while var. mexicana (Montezuma cypress, Taxodium mucronatum) remains semi-evergreen (Arnold 2002).  It is an extremely long-lived tree, with a life span of up to 1000 years possible.  All of these factors allow Taxodium to tolerate many urban environmental stresses, making this a promising choice for urban landscapes.  However, there are a few limitations to this species.  While it is tolerant of substantial soil salts, it tends to defoliate when leaves come into contact with salty irrigation water, many genotypes tend to develop chlorosis on high pH soils, and plants have a tendency to “brown out” in periods of extended or severe drought (Arnold 2002).  The purpose of the work described herein is to determine if there is a geographic basis for drought, alkalinity, and salt tolerance in Taxodium and to evaluate provenances in an effort to select those which yield individuals that are most adaptable/tolerant to these environmental stresses.

Year: 2007

Funding Duration: 1-3 years

Grant Program: John Z Duling

Grant Title: Assessing Field Level Cold Tolerance in Improved Genotypes of Taxodium distichum Tolerant of Alkaline Soils and Drought and Soil, Irrigation, and Production Factors Influencing Establishment of Container-Grown Trees at Various Planting Depths

Researcher: Mike Arnold

Key words: Baldcypress; saline tolerances; adaptability; drought

Peer Reviewed Publications from Grant:

  • Bryan, Donita L., et al. (2010) Transplant Season, Irrigation, and Planting Depth Effects on Landscape Establishment of Baldcypress and Sycamore. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 36(2): 57-65. View the Publication >
  • Adams, Robert P., M.A. Arnold, A.R. King, and G.C. Denny (2012) Geographic variation in the leaf essential oils of Taxodium (Cupressaceae). Phytologia 94(1):53-70.
  • Bryan, Donita L. (2008) Influence of planting depth on landscape establishment of container-grown trees. PhD Thesis Texas A&M University, 151pp.
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, J.J. Sloan, L.A. Valdez-Aguilar, and A.D. Cartmill. 2009. Planting depth during container production and landscape establishment affects growth ofUlmus parvifolia. HortScience 45(1):54-60. View the Publication >
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, G.V. McDonald, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, A.D. Cartmill, and G.C. Denny. 2006. Planting depth and cultural practices. pp. 17-24. In: Proc. of Trees and Planting: Getting the Roots Right Symposium. G. Watson (ed.). The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, Nov. 10-11, 2005.
  • Arnold, M.A., D.L. Bryan, R. Cabrera, G.C. Denny, J.J. Griffin, J.K. Iles, A.R. King, G.W. Knox, L. Lombardini, G.V. McDonald, C.B. McKenney, D.T. Montague, G. Niu, H.B. Pemberton, A.L. Purnell, L.J. Shoemake, D.K. Struve., and W.T. Watson. 2012. Provenance experiments with baldcypress, live oak, and sycamore illustrate the potential for selecting more sustainable urban trees. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry (in submission).
  • Arnold, M., D. Bryan, E. Bush, R. Cabrera, G. Denny, J. Griffin, J. Iles, A. King, G. Knox, L. Lombardini, G. McDonald, C. McKenney, T. Montague, G. Niu, A. Owings, B. Pemberton, A. Purnell, L. Shoemake, D. Struve, and T. Watson. 2011. Provenance and tree selection for the urban forest. Urban Tree Growth: An International Meeting and Research Symposium (12-13 Sept. 2011, Lisle, IL) Conference Proceedings p. 36.
  • Arnold, M.A., D.L. Bryan, R.I. Cabrera, G.C. Denny, J.J. Griffin, J.K. Iles, A.R. King, G.W. Knox, G.V. McDonald, C.B. McKenney, D.T. Montague, G. Niu, D.K. Struve, A.L. Shober, and N. West. 2012. Ten site evaluation of advanced clonal selections of Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. yields data aiding in selection of improved trees for built environments in the eastern and central United States. 2012 Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, Miami, FL. HortScience (accepted for supplement) (Abstr.)
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, J.J. Sloan, A. Alarcon, L.A. Valdez-Aguilar, A.D. Cartmill. 2011. Planting depth and soil amendments affect growth of Quercus virginiana Mill. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 10(2):127-132. View the Publication >
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, J.J. Sloan, L.A. Valdez-Aquilar, and A.D. Cartmill. 2010. Transplant Season, Irrigation, and Planting Depth Effects on Landscape Establishment of Baldcypress and Sycamore. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 36(2):57-65.View the Publication >
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, J.J. Sloan, and A.D. Cartmill. 2009. Overview of selected studies on the influence of planting depth on landscape establishment of container-grown trees. Proc. of the Landscape Below Ground III Conference. Lisle, IL, Oct. 7 – 9, 2008. pp. 126-130. View the Publication >
  • Arnold, M.A. 2009. Recent Research on Transplant Establishment Planting Decisions – Giving Trees a Fighting Chance in the Urban Jungle! 2009 American Society of Consulting Arborists Annual Conference, Monterey, CA, Dec. 2 – 5, 2009. onnections 2009, p. 11. (Abstract). View the Publication >

General Audience/Trade Publications:

  • Arnold, M., E. Bush, R. Cabrera, G. Denny, J. Griffin, J. Iles, A. King, G. Knox, G. McDonald, C. McKenney, T. Montague, G. Niu, A. Owings, and D. Struve. 2010. Testing tolerances of Taxodium. Landscape Plant News20(3):10-11.

Presentations:

  • Arnold, M.A. Sustainable plant selection. Southeast Texas Nursery Growers Conference, Jan. 27, 2012, Conroe, Texas.
  • Arnold, M.A. 2012. Plant introduction: finding the right genetics is just the beginning. Departmental Seminar Series, University of Georgia, Department of Horticulture, Athens, Georgia, Jan. 23, 2012.
  • Arnold, M.A. 2011. To mulch or not to mulch. Great Southern Tree Conference, Gainesville, FL, December 1-2, 2011. Gainesville, Florida.
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, W.T. Watson, L. Lombardini, J.J. Sloan, A. Alarcón, L.A. Valdez-Aguilar, and A.D. Cartmill. 2011. Effect of soil amendments and planting depth on landscape establishment of live oak. International Annual Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Crops Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, and Canadian Society of Soil Science, Oct. 16-19, 2011, San Antonio, TX. View the Presentation >
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, L. Lombardini, W.T. Watson, J.J. Sloan, and A.D. Cartmill. 2008. Effects of planting depths and soil types on landscape establishment of baldcypress. 2008. International Society for Arboriculture Conference, St. Louis, MO.
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, A. Volder, L. Lombardini, W.T. Watson, J.J. Sloan, and A.D. Cartmill. 2008. Influence of planting depth, container production methods, and cultural practices on tree performance and landscape establishment. Landscape Below Ground III Conference, Lisle, IL, Oct. 7 – 9, 2008. View the Presentation >
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, L. Lombardini, W.T. Watson, J.J. Sloan, and A.D. Cartmill. 2007. Can We Fix It? Effect of Different Planting Depths on Lacebark Elm. Arboriculture Research and Education Academy, International Society of Arboriculture Conference, Honolulu, HA, July 28 to Aug. 1, 2007.
  • Bryan, D.L., M.A. Arnold, G.V. McDonald, and G.C. Denny. 2007. Is planting depth a significant problem for container-grown trees? Arboriculture Research and Education Academy, International Society of Arboriculture Conference, Honolulu, HA, July 28 to Aug. 1, 2007.

For more information on this project, contact the researcher via TREE Fund at treefund@treefund.org.