10-YEAR GROWTH COMPARISON BETWEEN ROOTED CUTTINGS AND SEEDLINGS OF LOBLOLLY-PINE

Rooted cuttings and seedlings of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were e stablished in a central Alabama field trial. Five, full-sib families, with an average number of six clones per family, were evaluated. Mean cutting/seedling height ratios revealed that despite initial differenc es in size, relative growth rates of both propagule types stabilized a nd were equal by age 7 years. Through age 10 years, results show virtu ally no difference in height, diameter at breast height, volume, or st em taper between the rooted cuttings and seedlings.