Provenance variation among different populations of Pinusstrobus from Canada and the United States

Abstract

Eastern white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), represented by 117 seed sources from different parts of its range in Canada and the United States, was studied for 2 years in a nursery and 14 years at two plantations in Maryland. In the Piedmont Plateau, these populations ranged in survival from 38 to 100%, in height from 3.0 to 8.2 m, and in diameter from 4.3 to 16.8 cm. In the Coastal Plain, they varied in survival from 25 to 100%, in height from 3.0 to 7.8 m, and in diameter from 3.6 to 15.5 cm. Heights and diameters were strongly correlated; both these characteristics were correlated inversely with the latitude (r ranged from −0.38 to −0.67) and directly with the altitude of the seed source (r = 0.22 to 0.31). The latter correlation, however, included a latitudinal component because most high-elevation trees came from the south. Heights in Maryland at 16 years were significantly correlated with heights of similar populations at younger ages studied in 10 other plantations in the eastern United States (r = 0.32 to 0.73) and to the date of bud set by 1-year-old trees (r = 0.23 to 0.51). The most outstanding in growth rate were some sources from Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Also, among the northern sources two populations from Norfolk County, Ontario, were distinctly superior.

Climatic niche, ecological genetics, and impact of climate change on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.): Guidelines for land managers

“…Nonetheless, with the exception of such flagrant errors, we have assumed the remaining geographic references are accurate. Genys (1987) also reported for the same test series, the 16-yr height expressed as a percentage of the mean of all trees in the plantation, for 108 of the same populations in two Maryland field tests. Each test had four replications of 4-tree square plots.…”

“…A wealth of provenance tests of Pinus strobus have documented latitudinal clines in phenology (Lu et al, 2003;Santamour, 1960), timing of cold acclimation (Maronek and Flint, 1974;Mergen, 1963;Lu et al, 2002), and survival, height and diameter growth at ages up to 28 years, (Abubaker and Zsuffa, 1990;Beaulieu et al, 1996;Demeritt and Garrett, 1996;Demeritt and Kettlewood, 1976;Fowler and Heimbuger, 1969;Funk, 1971;Funk et al, 1975;Garrett et al, 1973;Genys, 1968Genys, , 1987Genys, , 1990Joyce et al, 2002a;King and Nienstadt, 1968;Li et al, 1997;Sluder, 1963;Sluder and Dorman, 1971;Sprackling and Read, 1976;Wright, 1970;Wright et al, 1963;Wright et al, 1979). While insightful for understanding the contemporary pattern of adaptive variation, geophysical models are of little use in predicting adaptive responses to changing climate.…”

Genetics of white pine and implications for management and conservation

“…Furthermore, it appears that growth rate and adaptability are complex parameters and may be further complicated by the genetic dynamics of specific parental populations. There appears to be much local variation associated with the overall seed source variation, as evidenced by the different performances of the seven Cochrane sources included in the Maryland study (Genys 1987) and the within-source variation calculated in the two Ontario seed source tests measured at age 28 (Abubaker and Zsuffa 1991). This diversity, or remnants of diversity in some areas, represents a challenge to forest managers, both in maintaining it at its current level during silvicultural treatments, and in restoring or reassembling it in areas where white pine is now a secondary or minor component with a very fragmented population structure due to past exploitation.…”

“…Among-source differences contributed 21 % of the variation in volume estimates, while 66% was due to within-source differences. Genys (1987) reported on another set of tests established at two locations in Maryland, an upland Piedmont site and a Coastal Plain site. One hundred and seventeen sources were represented, including 11 from Ontario.…”

“…In fact, there is a need for action in Ontario, to sustain genetic remnants from the legacy of past exploitation, and to ensure the continuation of intact populations, both for future economic utilization and to maintain their ability to adapt to changing environments (Namkoong 1984). Experimental evidence suggests that Ontario's white pine genetic resource is of great potential value (Genys 1987(Genys , 1991, but the levels and patterns of this genetic variation have yet to be determined.…”