Masters Theses

George Rink

Date of Award

6-1971

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Forestry

Major Professor

Eyvind Thor

Committee Members

Harold A. Core, Vernon H. Reich

Abstract

Fifteen seed source tests of loblolly pine in Tennessee were measured and analyzed for eight growth characteristics during 1969 and 1970. The provenance tests were evaluated to determine from which locations within the species range superior phenotypes should be selected for establishment of seed orchards of loblolly pine in Tennessee. In addition, five needle characteristics were studied to determine if needle variation follows regional variation patterns. Results of the growth data indicate that trees from the northeast part of the species range (Maryland, Virginia or North Carolina) are most suitable for maximum wood production in most parts of Tennessee. However, in areas with milder climates, such as in the southwest por-tion of the state, inland and Piedmont trees seem to have as good or slightly higher wood production than trees of northeast sources. Greatest wood production was by loblolly pines growing in locations with freeze-free periods corresponding in duration to those of their provenance. Trees from northeast sources and from Arkansas had super-ior stem straightness over trees from all other sources. Conflicting results were obtained from the wood specific gravity evaluations. However, some weak evidence of a regional variation pat-tern did seem to be present; there was a tendency for trees of northeast sources to have higher specific gravity wood. Of the five needle characteristics evaluated, only stomatal frequency appeared to be under strong genetic control. In addition, a regional variation pattern seemed to be present in three provenance tests for number of serrations per centimeter with the highest frequency of serrations being from trees of inland sources and the lowest from trees of Coastal Plain sources. Statistically significant differences among sources were obtained only in those provenance tests where widely divergent sources were repre-sented. In order to detect differences among provenances where rela-tively similar seed sources are represented, either number of replications or number of seed sources must be increased.

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