INTRASPECIFIC VARIABILITY IN MARITIME PIN E (PINUS-PINASTER AIT) IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF FRANCE .1. VARIABILITY IN AUTOCHTHONOUS POPULATIONS AND IN THE WHOLE RANGE OF THE SPECIES

A provenance trial of maritime pine comprising 25 provenances (table I ) and located in the south-east of France was studied at 8, 9 and 13 y ears of age. The results show a high variability for growth and sensib ility to the coccid Matsucoccus feytaudi at the regional level, but no differentiation for form traits (see table III, analysis 1). At the s pecies range level, however, significant provenance differences appear for all characters (see table III, analyses 2 and 3). Atlantic proven ances are the most vigorous and among the most resistant to the coccid (see figs 1 and 2). Corsican provenances show an intraracial variatio n for form and a great sensibility to the insect (see figs 1 and 2). T he Moroccan origin appears to be completely resistant to the insect, w hile the south-eastern populations are intermediate for vigor and form but quite sensitive to the pest (see figs 1 and 2). These results rai se the problem of the use of the local populations as reproductive mat erial in the south-east In this respect, interracial hybridization may be an alternative method for genetic improvement of maritime pine.