Effects of different nursery conditions on the plant development and some leaf characteristics in Chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.)

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different nursery conditions on plant development (the length and diameter of graft shoot) and some leaf characteristics (leaf number per plant, mean leaf area and total leaf area per plant) in the chestnut. The study was carried out in the open field and under shaded (50%) and unshaded greenhouse conditions. The inverted radicle grafting method was used with scions of genotype SE 3-12 and Marigoule on seedlings of 554-14 genotype. Grafting was performed during the second week of May in the first year and during the last week of April in the second year. Significant differences in plant development and leaf characteristics were found in different nursery conditions. The shoot length and the mean and total leaf area obtained under shaded greenhouse conditions were higher (P<0.01) than that from other conditions; also leaf numbers obtained under unshaded greenhouse conditions were higher (P<0.01) than those from other conditions. The highest correlation (r = 0.925) amongst the plant growth parameters was determined to be that between shoot length and plant total leaf area (P<0.01). These results indicate that the chestnut genotypes used in this study are capable of surviving in a shadier environment and that under these conditions the length and diameter of the graft shoot is maximum at the end of the vegetation period.