Growth rhythm, height growth and survival of Russian larch (Larix Mill.) provenances in greenhouse and field conditions in Finland
Lukkarinen A. (2013). Growth rhythm, height growth and survival of Russian larch (Larix Mill.) provenances in greenhouse and field conditions in Finland. https://doi.org/10.14214/df.160
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the growth rhythm, height growth and survival of seedlings of 20 Russian larch (Larix Mill.) provenances and five comparison entries in sowing year in greenhouse conditions and in field conditions in southern (Punkaharju 61°49′N, 29°19′E) and northern (Kivalo 66°19′N, 26°38′E) Finland after third and fourth growing seasons. Geographic and climatic conditions of the origins were used to explain the differences between the provenances. In the sowing year in greenhouse, latitude explained 74% of the length of the growing period. In the field in Punkaharju, the northern Siberian larches (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) had the earliest bud burst and the Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) provenances slightly earlier onset of height growth. The temperature sum and latitude of the provenances explained the differences in shoot elongation. After four growing seasons in the field northern provenances had the best survival and height growth in Kivalo. Survival did not differ significantly between provenances in Punkaharju field experiment. The southern Dahurian larches had a superior height growth in Punkaharju and they had least mammal damages. In Punkaharju, the growth cessation was affected by photoperiod and possibly by declining temperatures in autumn. Provenances from cold northern climates developed their terminal buds first. They also formed autumn colouring and shed their needles earlier than more southern provenances. Dahurian larches showed potential in height growth and ability to utilize the length of the growing season effectively in Punkaharju. They also seemed to have, on average, smaller amount of mammal damages. Despite this, the currently used Siberian larch of Raivola origin is still the safest choice for larch forestry in whole Finland in terms of adaptation to climate. Further studies are needed still on the potential offered by different species and provenances (and their hybrids) to generalize the findings of this work.
Keywords
provenance;
phenology;
bud burst;
bud set;
autumn colouring;
seedling damage
Published 29 May 2013
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Available at https://doi.org/10.14214/df.160 | Download PDF
Original articles
Lukkarinen, A.J., Ruotsalainen, S., Nikkanen, T. & Peltola, H. 2009. The growth rhythm and height growth of seedlings of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Dahurian (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) larch provenances in greenhouse conditions. Silva Fennica 43(1): 5–20.
https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.215
Lukkarinen, A.J., Ruotsalainen, S., Nikkanen, T. & Peltola, H. 2010. Survival, height growth and damages of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Dahurian (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) larch provenances in field trials located in southern and northern Finland. Silva Fennica 44(5): 727–747.
https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.120
Lukkarinen, A.J., Ruotsalainen, S., Peltola, H. & Nikkanen, T. 2013. Annual growth rhythm of Larix sibirica and Larix gmelinii provenances in a field trial in southern Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. 15 p.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2013.786125
Lukkarinen, A.J., Ruotsalainen, S., Peltola, H. & Nikkanen, T. Bud set and autumn colouration of Larix sibirica (Ledeb.) and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) provenances in a field trial in southern Finland. Manuscript.