Growth and adaplation of Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait) provenances in Northern Greece

In this study, seven-year-old samples of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) from four seed sources were compared for their height growth, survival and local adaptability at five ecologically different enviromments in N. Greece. The test sites ranged from the low elevation and drier evergreen shrub formation zone to the higher elevation and more humid broad leaved oak (Quercus conferta Kit) zone.The seeds were originated from natural stands of France (regions of Landes and Cevennes), the island of Corsica (region of Antisante) and Portugal. The experimental plantings were estabilished in 1971, using one-year-old containerized seedlings, planted on terraced soils in two rows on each terrace in a split-plot design. Growth data were taken annually for seven consecutive years. For reasons of comparison growth data were also taken from pilot plantations, seven to thirty nine years old, at comparable enviroments throughout Greece. The main results were: (1) There was no significant differences in heigth growth among the saplings of the various seed sources in all experimental plantings. However, the seed sources from Corsica, Portugal and Landes of France might be preferred in reforestation projects, for their better stem straitness, smaller number and size of branches and better crown form in general. Saplings from seed source of Corsica were found to be the most drought resistant in addition to their good growth. (2) Saplings of all seed sources grown on the inner line of the terrace were significantly taller than those grown on the outer line. This was attributed to severe depletion of soil moisture by the herbaceous and shruby native vegatation which was denser on the outer line than the inner line of the terrace. (3) Saplings of all seed sources grown at forest sites of the evergreen shrub formation zone, had the smallest mean height and the lowest survival percentage. On the contrary, saplings grown at forest sites of the broadleaved oak zone were the tallest and had the highest survival percentage, but suffered seriously from injuries caused by the heavy snowfalls