Forest Research is now embarking on research which aims to look at the variation of a number of traits that are linked to the adaptation of a particular provenance to its local environment, for example:
- Timing of bud burst and leaf senescence
- Tolerance to frost or drought
- Reproductive capacity.
For this work we are looking at three native species each occurring over nearly the whole of GB:
- Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
- Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
- Silver birch (Betula pendula).
These trials operate along side the traditional provenance trials that have been used as part of our tree breeding programme to investigate range wide variation with a view to finding the best sources of seed for future plantings.
In the traditional trials the main traits of interest have usually been growth rate and tree form since the aim has been to grow trees for timber. We have a number of trials of this type, which include provenances from both the UK and abroad, for:
- Oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea)
- Ash
- Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
- Red oak (Q. rubra)
- Beech (Fagus sylvatica).
