TESTING OF JUVENILE-MATURE CORRELATIONS W ITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WATER-SUPPLY FOR 12 CLONES OF NORWAY SPRUCE (PICEA-ABIES [L] KARST) ILLUSTRATIONS OF HEIGHT GROWTH

Juvenile-mature-correlations were examined on 12 clones of Norway Spru ce (Picea abies L. Karst.). 2 to 5 year old plants were used to invest igate productivity- and resistance parameters relating to water stress (juvenile attributes). The height (mature attribute) of 13 year old p lants was determined at 6 field trials. Physiological (phase model for drought resistance) and statistical (multiple regression analysis) mo dels were used to illustrate the mean relative field height. 90% of th e variation of height growth could be explained by the juvenile attrib utes stress respiration, photosynthesis under favourable conditions, n eedle xeromorphism and drought tolerance. In this model the increase i n respiration after flooding, which was considered to be an ability fo r adaptation to changing environmental conditions, was with R2 > 0.5 t he most important independent variable. Models and the plausibility of the juvenile-mature-correlation found were discussed.