3.8 L and 9.5 L container type | Trunk diam. (mm) | Tree height (m) | % trunk circled in top half of 3.8 L container | % trunk circled in bottom half of 3.8 L container | 3.8 L visual imprintz rating (1–5) | % root cully in 3.8 L container | Total root length down, up, or around side of 9.5 L container (mm) | % roots that grew straightx to 9.5 L container periphery | % trees with >2 straight horizontal rootsw initiated from trunk while in 9.5 L containerv | % total root CSA deeper than 8 cm at 9.5 L container periphery | Ratio CSA five largest horizontal: five largest descending rootsu |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC3 | 14 bt | 1.0 b | 13 b | 2 b | 1.5 b | 11 b | 216 b | 69 a | 42 a | 44 | 4.9 a |
SC3 | 16 a | 1.2 a | 24 a | 48 a | 4.5 a | 28 a | 1019 a | 11 b | 21 b | 83 | 0.1 b |
↵z 1 = no visible deflection or retained “cage” formed by deflected roots at the position of the propagation liner; 5 = highly visible “cage” formed by deflected roots at the liner.
↵y Root cull according to Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants (Anonymous 1998).
↵x Straight roots were those measured at the edge of root ball that grew from trunk at <45 degree angle to substrate surface without making a turn of >60 degrees relative to parent root azimuth at trunk.
↵w Horizontal roots were those growing from the trunk at less than a 45 degree angle to substrate surface; descending roots are those growing at an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees.
↵v ἀ ese grew from the top of the main structural roots or trunk base and were distinguished from existing roots by their straight orientation and light coloration, typically with a long, white root tip.
u Measured just beyond the edge of the propagation container.
↵t Means in a column with a different letter are statistically different at P < 0.05; n = 42 averaged across propagation container type, and across these three treatment combinations due to insignificant interaction: 5 or 12 months in propagation container without root pruning when shifting to 3.8 L container, and 12 months retention with root pruning.