PHENOTYPIC STABILITY OF HEIGHT GROWTH OF JACK PINE PROVENANCES

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Abstract
Sixteen Lake States jack pine provenances were evaluated for phenotypic stability in Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Stability of total height at the age of 12 years was calculated using the methods of Wricke (1962) and Eberhart and Russell (1966), which partition the sums of squares for provenance-location interaction into individual provenance contributions. The regression of height on latitude of origin was also computed separately for each location. Northern provenances (from latitude 47–48°N) and southern provenances (44–45°N) contributed much to the interaction, while central provenances (46°N) contributed little. An apparent reason for these differences is the distance from the area of origin to the planting site; this was least for the central provenances. Increases in height were obtained by growing southern provenances 2–3° north of their origin. The stability methods tested are useful in the selection process, particularly after initial studies have delimited areas within which selection can be concentrated.