Response of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings to different climatic conditions and their adaptation peculiarities

Abstract

The influence of climatic conditions on seedlings of different Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations was investigated. The same soil used outdoors allowed to evaluate the sensitivity of populations to transfer and their adaptability. The population formed in the most continental conditions (Labanoras) essentially differed from the other populations. The population formed in the maritime conditions (Telšiai) demonstrated the most negative reaction to new climatic conditions. The southern medium continental population (Veisiejai) occupied an intermediate position. Seedlings of the most continental population (Labanoras) grew best in Sûduva-Dzûkija highlands, while seedlings of maritime (Telðiai) and medium continental (Veisiejai) populations preferred autochthonous locations. In the same growth conditions were ascertained differences in the genetic adaptation of population traits and characteristics in the juvenile stage (nursery). Therefore, selection of families in populations is more efficient than selection of populations. In more favourable conditions (nursery) a greater variation of growth and biological productivity indices is observed, thus selection in the nursery is more efficient on population, family and individual levels. The population from the most continental conditions exceeded by growth and biological productivity traits the seedlings from maritime and southern medium continental populations. Seedlings of the population formed in the maritime conditions showed a bad growth and lowest biological productivity traits. The survival of seedlings from families of different populations decreased from the north to the south: seedlings of the maritime population were superior for this trait than seedlings from the eastern most continental and southern medium Continental populations. Keywords: Scots pine, autochthonous population, climatic conditions, genetic adaptation, ecological adaptation