Development of Picea jezoensis (Siebold & Zucc.) Carriere trees at virginal ontogenetic stage in the Korean pine-broadleaved forest of the Southern Sikhote-Alin

We described growth of Picea jezoensis (Siebold & Zucc.) Carriere trees at the virginal ontogenetic stage as one of the dominant species of the Korean pine-broadleaved forests in the south of the Russian Far East, Sikhote-Alin Mountains. Using dendroecological approach, we reconstructed stand disturbance history and studied impact of the disturbances on development of the P. jezoensis virginal plants. We found that severe stand disturbances lead to synchronous transition to the next subgroup of virginal stage and thus lead to appearing of generations of plants that may differ in age but are on the same ontogenetic stage of their development. We determined duration of plants development in the subgroups of the virginal stage and its total duration. We conclude that despite alternating periods when radial increment increases and, conversely, decreases, in general, the growth of virginal plants is relatively uniform and slow. Therefore, if growth conditions become less favorable because of climate change, this will cause the plants to be unable to access canopy and reach a generative stage.