Pattern of genotype–environment interaction in Picea glauca (Moench) Voss in Alberta, Canada

Genotype-environment interaction (GEI) among 19 white spruce provenances planted on eight sites in Alberta, Canada, was analyzed using type B correlations (rp) and the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The objectives were to quantify the extent of crossover interaction for height and diameter; evaluate the age trends in GEI for height and diameter; and examine the role of provenance and test site climate in causing GEI. & Results and discussion A high latitude (~59°N) site was poorly correlated (rp=−0.31 to 0.56) with sites located south of latitude 56°N; a high-elevation (1,220 m) site was poorly correlated (rp≤0.40) with most of the sites located at medium and low elevations (≤800 m); additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed a strong association between provenances and sites with similar climate; high-latitude provenances and sites with cool winters and dry summers, and high elevation provenances and sites with high precipitation and short growing seasons contributed the greatest to GEI. Because the relationship between GEI and climate correspon s well with latitudes and topography, seed transfer in Alberta can be effectively r gulated by setting latitude and elevation transfer limits that are periodically adjusted to reflect the changing conditions caused by climate change.