In recent years many Christmas tree crops - most of them planted with Abies nordmanniana - in Lower Austria near Maria Taferl showed strong damage caused by incorrectly applied herbicides and pesticides. Shoot- and needle growth reduction, needle yellowing and browning, abnormal shoot growth and inhibition of shoot elongation are the most common symptoms. Incorrect application of herbicides can influence respiration and compounds of phyto hormones and by that way affect total photosyntesis because of injury to mesophyll. Spraying of herbicides should be avoided in cultures of young fir seedlings.
