PROVENANCE VARIATION OF PINUS-MURICATA GROWN IN GREECE

Provenance trials of muricata pine (Pinus muricata D. DON) were plante d in 1980 and 1983 in 2 locations in Greece. The seed was from the 197 8 International Collection. Six (in 1980) and 8 (in 1983) provenances were included in the experimental plantings. Assessments were made at the ages of 12 and 9 years from planting and the following results wer e obtained. There are significant differences between provenances for total tree height, diameter at breast height, bark thickness, branch d iameter and the percentages of forked trees. In both locations the Men docino inland blue provenance (provenance 09/2) was the best (average height 9.09 m at the age of 12 years) followed by Sonoma coastal (prov enance 08/1). The northern provenance from Humboldt Trinidad Head (pro venance 10) was the slowest growing (average height at the age of 12 y ears 7.51 m) with the higher proportion of forked trees (20% of the to tal). It is concluded that muricata pine may have some merit in the ha rdier sites of higher elevations in Greece (above the optimum sites of radiata pine) and that the best provenance of Mendocino inland (prove nance 09/2) must be compared, in common experiments with Pinus brutia and Pinus pinaster.