Differential response of paper birch provenances to aluminum in solution culture

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Abstract
Progenies belonging to 49 open-pollinated families of paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.) representing 13 provenances were evaluated sequentially for rate of root elongation in solutions containing only calcium nitrate and solutions containing calcium nitrate + 120 ppm aluminum. Provenances, but not families within provenances, differed significantly in both rate of root elongation and apparent response to Al. Provenance mean tolerance indices (root growth in Al solutions/root growth in non-Al solutions) varied from 0.10 to 0.37. Exposure to 120 ppm Al caused decreased concentrations of Ca and Cu in the foliage, decreased or nearly unchanged concentrations of P and Mg, and increased concentrations of Al, B, and Mn. Compared with the more tolerant provenances, intolerant provenances exhibited generally greater increases in foliar Al concentration after exposure to Al. Differential tolerance to Al will be useful in improving the performance of planted trees on Al-toxic sites.

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