Abstract:

Provenance variation in growth, stem-form qualities and wood basic density was investigated in a 24-year-old Masson Pine(Pinus massoniana) provenance trial including 49 seed sources located at Chunan county of Zhejiang to select superior provenances for pulp wood and building timber respectively. The results indicated that there existed significant differences in growth rate and wood quality among the provenances. A classical clinal variation pattern responding to the latitude of seed sources was found for DBH, height, individual volume and stem straightness, and water and heat resources of seed sources were the main climatic factors which caused the variation. Productivity of the southern provenances was higher than that of the northern provenances. A weak correlation existed between wood basic density and latitude/longitude, while a strong negative correlation existed between wood basic density and annual mean temperature, temperature in January, frostless season and accumulated temperature over 10 ℃ of the seed source. Genetic correlation analyses suggested that stem straightness could be concurrently improved with selection of fast-growing provenances, whereas the wood basic density was decreased. The range of Masson Pine in China can be divided into Southern, Middle and Northern provenance zone by cluster analysis. Nineteen and six superior provenances were respectively selected for pulpwood and building timber, most of which were from Southern provenance zone with some from Middle provenance zone.

Key words: Masson Pine(Pinus massoniana), provenance, growth, stem-form qualities, wood basic density, geographic variation, provenance division, provenance selection