Provenance Geographical and Climatic Characteristics Influence Budburst Phenology of Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Seedlings

• DOI: 10.3390/f11101067
• Publication Date: 2020-10-05T12:35:57Z
• Authors: Aalap Dixit; Thomas Kolb; Owen Burney
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; elevation; <i>Pinus ponderosa</i>; 13. Climate action; budburst; provenance variation; latitude; common garden; precipitation; 15. Life on land; phenology; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson &amp; C. var. scopulorum Engelm.) forests of the southwestern US are threatened by climate change and deforestation. Information about geographic patterns provenance variation in budburst phenology is needed to make decisions selecting seed sources for future planting. In this study, seedlings was examined using common garden studies. Seedlings from 21 provenances, representing an elevational gradient Arizona New Mexico, were planted July 2018 at a pine-dominated field site northern Arizona. Field monitored weekly on all spring 2019. compared with timing same provenances measured under greenhouse conditions. The hypotheses study that (1) varies among earlier low-elevation (2) differences consistent grown environments. results show vary date low- middle-elevation break bud sooner than high-elevation provenances. had moderate, positive correlation mean annual precipitation (r = 0.522) negative trend latitude −0.413). Budburst 0.554), suggesting application plantings. Such information environmental trends will be useful developing species-specific transfer guidelines effective assisted migration strategies changing climate.