Variability of needle length of introduced Pinus L. species in the Left-Bank Steppe of Ukraine

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Variability of needle length of introduced Pinus L. species in the Left-Bank Steppe of Ukraine

Journal Title: Лісівництво і агролісомеліорація - Year 2014, Vol 125, Issue

Abstract

The average length of one year old needles of introduced Pinus L. species was investigated in the Left-bank Steppe of Ukraine. This index is important for species and intraspecific taxon identification. Variability level of the index was evaluated as the degree of multiformity of species. The research objects were: Donetsk Botanical garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the nursery of the State Enterprise "Mariupol Forest Research Station" (Donetsk region), Velykoanadolsky Forest College (Donetsk region) and Orekhivske forestry of the State Enterprise "Sverdlovske Forest & Hunting Economy" of Luhansk Regional Administration of Forest and Hunting Economy (Luhansk region). Morphological and biometric methods general for botany and dendrology were used. To measure the length, one-year-old needles were gathered from three shoots of the third cluster from the ground for grown-up pines and from central shoot for young pines (20 fascicles from each tree). Variability was evaluated with the help of empirical scale of S.A. Mamaev for quantitative indices of plants. Obtained data were processed using statistic methods and software Microsoft Excel. Needle length and its variability were assessed for 26 taxons and cultivars of introduced pines and intraspecific hybrids F2 P. densiflora × P. nigra, P. densiflora × P. tabulaeformis. The most of plants are of North American and European origin. By mean needle length, investigated introduced pines were conditionally classified into following groups: short needles (needle length is 2.0–5.0 cm, five taxoms or cultivars); needles of middle length (needle length is 6.0–10.0 cm, 13 taxons, cultivars and F2 hybrids); long needles (needle length is 11.0–19.0 cm, 8 taxons). By variability of needle length, the pines were classified into groups. It was proved that 19 % of investigated taxons, cultivars and hybrids have very low variability of needle length, 47.6 % of taxons, cultivars and hybrids have low variability, 28.6 % have middle variability, and у 4.8 % of taxons, cultivars and hybrids have high variability. Comparison of plants of the same taxon (cultivar) by variability of needle length show that this index is mainly very low and low, sometimes is middle. Investigated introduced species, intraspecific taxons and F2 hybrids of Pinus L. have significantly different needle length, which is genetically conditioned. Найкоротшою виявилась хвоя The needles of P. cembroides var. edulis was the shortest, and needles of P. ponderosa was the longest. Mean needle length of introduced pines in the Left-bank Steppe of Ukraine mainly corresponds to dendrological descriptions in Ukrainian and foreign publications. The most of introduced pines have low and middle variability of needle length, for some trees it is low and very low. P. mugо is the most polymorphous species by needle length, P. armandii is the least polymorphous species.

Authors and Affiliations

N. Solomaha

Keywords

genus Pinus L. introduction needle length sign variability variability index

EP ID EP180557
DOI -
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