SURVIVAL, GROWTH, YIELD, STEM FORM AND WOOD BASIC DENSITY OF PINUS-OOCARPA PROVENANCES AT BUHINDI, MWANZA, TANZANIA

The performance of 16 Pinus oocarpa (including 5 now reclassified as P inus patula spp. tecunumanii) provenances at Buhindi Mwanza, Tanzania: is evaluated in terms of survival, height growth, breast height diame ter, basal area per ha, wood basic density and stem form. The final as sessment was carried out at the age of 22 years. The main results of t he study were: - Before angular transformation, survival varied from 7 7% (Rafael, Nicaragua) to 56% (Conacaste, Guatemala). However no signi ficant difference (P > 0.05) in survival was detected after such trans formation. - Height growth showed significant differences (P < 0.05) a t all ages. At 22 years the outstanding provenances were Siguatepeque que (Honduras), Rafael (Nicaragua), and Zamorano (Honduras). Least hei ght growth was shown by Bonete (Nicaragua) provenance. - Significant d ifferences (P < 0.05) were detected in breast height diameter. Outstan ding provenances were Yucul, Came lias (Nicaragua) and Mt. Pine Ridge- K49 (Belize). Least performers were Zamorano (Honduras) and Lagulnilla (Guatemala) provenances. - Significant differences (P < 0.05) were de tected in basal area per ha development. The Bucaral (Guatemala) prove nance was outstanding while least basal area development was recorded in the Conacaste, Lagunilla (Guatemala) and Siguatepeque (Honduras)pro venances. - The Bucaral (Guatemala) provenance was significantly super ior (P < 0.05) in wood basic density. Least wood basic density values were recorded from Camelias, Yucul, Rafael, Junquillo (Nicaragua), Ang eles (Honduras) and the Lagumilla (Guatemala) provenances. - No signif icant differences (P > 0.05) in stem form were observed. It is suggest ed that the 5 Pinus patula SCHIEDE and DEPPE ssp. tecunumanii (EQUILUZ and FERRY) provenances are likely candidates for species diversificat ion in the Lake Victoria zone where the main plantation species is Pin us caribaea. However, noting that more than half of the natural distri bution of P. oocarpa occurs outside central America, more provenances need to be tested to cover that extended range. Similarly, the sparse sampling of P. patula ssp. tecunumanii also needs additional represent ation. Restricting the results of this study to Pinus oocarpa, provena nce ranking in diminishing order of performance gives: Bucaral (Guatem ala), Zapotillo, Zamorano (Honduras), Chuacus (Guatemala), Siguatepequ e (Honduras), Bonete, Junquillo (Nicaragua), Conacaste (Guatemala), An geles (Honduras) and San Jose (Guatemala); and Lagunilla (Guatemala). In descending order of performance, suitable Pinus patula ssp, tecunum anii provenances are Mt. Pine Ridge (K49), Mt. Pine Ridge (K29), Rafae l, Yucul and Camelias (Nicaragua).