Ecological properties of Pinus nigra ssp pallasiana var. seneriana

In this study, the ecological properties of Pinus nigra ARN. ssp. pallasian a (LAM.) HOLMBOE var. seneriana (SAATCIOGLU) YALTIRIK, one of the endemic p lants in Turkey, has been studied. To determine the biological characters, needle, cone and seed morphology of the plant were used as main characters. Bioclimate, soil, dead layer characters and floristic composition of the d istribution area were used to determine the ecological characters. P. nigra ssp. pallasiana var. seneriana, shows a distribution in Bolu, Mani sa and Kutahya at an altitude of 800 m to 1250 m. It is a tree that has man y stems branching from the base, with rounded or spherical, wide top and al so close branches. Average needle length is 82.2 mm with 1.3 mm width. Aver age cone length is 51.2 mm with 26.8 mm width. The annual precipitation is 487.1 mm to 702.7 mm and annual temperature is 10.2 degreesC to 16.9 degree sC in the area. In the whole distribution area, rendsina soil type is domin ant, besides this, Braunerde, Gale braunerde, Meridional braunerde and Terr a Rossa of soils exist as well. Almost 65% of the determined plants showed wide distribution, 11.2% of them are Euro-Siberia, 12.9% is Mediterranean, 11.2% are Irano-Turanian element and the endemical ratio is 9.5%. In seed g ermination experiments, it was found that there is no inhibition on germina tion. Germination ratio decreased in the dark period. Low concentration (0. 5%) of NaCl, HCl and KNO3 did not have any effect on seed germination perce nt, however at high concentration of these solutions, seed germination is i nhibited, and at all concentration of H2SO4, germination is inhibited.