Provenance variation and provenance-site interaction in Pinus brutia Ten.: Consequences of defining breeding zones

Journal Article

Transfer Guideline: Recommendation

Forty-nine provenances of Pinus brutia were tested on 13 sites in Turkey, and 10-year results were evaluated. Provenances did not differ for survival except at two sites. There were highly significant differences among the provenances in height and diameter in all test sites located in the Mediterranean, Marmara and in the southeastern regions of Turkey. However, provenances did not differ in Aegean region sites except for diameter at one site. The fastest growing provenances had up to 55% greater height and 50% greater diameter than the site means, implying considerable gain can be realized if the best provenances were selected for plantations. Provenances from the middle elevation zone (400 m to 900 m) of the Mediterranean region had greater growth than the provenances from peripheral distribution of the species at most sites. In general, the results did not support seed transfer zoning which was based on geographic and climatic data. Sub zoning of the Aegean region was not justified, as type B provenance correlations were high, well over the threshold value (r = 0.8). For northern Marmara (Kesan site) and southeast Anatolia regions, a land race should be developed. Provenances were significantly different for stability variances, indicating the potential to select for stable genotypes aross sites or for genotypes that are the most productive at specific sites.