Heartwood and sapwood variation in mature provenance trials of Pinus sylvestris

In two Swedish provenance test series of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) f rom 1911 and 1955, only limited provenance differences were found in number of heartwood and sapwood annual rings and in the width of heartwood and sa pwood. Valiance components were smaller than for tree size traits. Correlat ions between heartwood and sapwood annual rings were negative and significa nt, while weak correlations were indicated between heartwood and sapwood wi dth. Correlations with tree size traits were weaker in the young test serie s than in the older series. The results indicate that stand characteristics (such as stand density) have stronger influence than provenance and latitu dinal transfer on heartwood and sapwood traits. This was pronounced for sap wood width and for mature field tests as compared to younger tests. No diff erences due to provenance origin or latitudinal transfer were detected, pos sibly since the within provenance variation was large due to other effects (e.g. family effects).