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Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the performance and adaptability of a 22-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) full-sibling progeny plantation representing genetic material from seven European countries (Spain, France, Russia, Ex-Yugoslavia, Italy, Greece, and Germany), to the Great Plains environment. The study site was located at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, NE. A total of 92 individuals originating from 23 crosses were studied for the following growth parameters: specific leaf area (SLA, cm2g-1), needle length (cm), canopy width (m), and tree height (m). Analysis of variance and orthogonal contrasts were used to compare crosses. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to understand the factors controlling seed source classification. Taller trees, wider canopies and long needles characterized crosses that scored high in the PCA, while crosses that scored low had high SLA. Results indicated that crosses with maternal genetic materials originating from northern latitudes (i.e. Russia and Germany) performed better than the remaining crosses. Additionally, crossing northern seed sources with southern sources (i.e. Italy and Greece) improved growth. PCA analysis showed that height was the most valuable indicator variable, which is important because tree height is one of the easiest and fastest measurements that can be obtained in the field, allowing it to be used by producers and non-scientists in the future as an inexpensive and simple method of testing.

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