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Is Variation in Budbreak of Red Oak the Result of Heredity or Environment?

When outplanted over a wide range of elevations in the Southern Appalachians, northern red oak seedlings from sources at low elevations broke dormancy 11 days sooner than those from higher elevations. Variation within the three-tree sources averaged 3 days at a given outplanting site. This pattern in budbreak appears to persist for 8 or more years. Such variation greatly affects the ability of outplanted seedlings to withstand unseasonable cold weather and to compete with surrounding vegetation. At this time, it is difficult to tell whether the variation results from genetic differences or from environmental preconditioning of the sources. Additional keywords: Quercus rubra, phenology, provenance.


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Author(s): Charles E. McGee

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1973