EVALUATION OF GROWTH OF EUROPEAN BLACK PINE (PINUS NIGRA ARNOLD) PROVENANCES IN CENTRAL BOHEMIA AT THE AGE OF 51 YEARS

The paper contains the evaluation of 9 European black pine provenances on the research trial No. 41 - Roblin (Czech Republic) at the age of 51 years. The tested provenances originated from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, France and Slovakia. The evaluation is based on an assessment of following factors: total height, dbh, stem form, health state, defoliation, diameter of main branches, stem damage, crown density, twisted growth, stem nature pruning, cross-section, and taper. Obtained data sets were statistically analysed. The best growth both in quantitative and qualitative traits was recognised for the provenance 9 - Les Barres, Oise (France), which was excellent in height growth, health status and stem shape, and also for the Serbian provenance 2 - Crni Vrh, Titovo Uzice, which excelled not only in growth rate, stem shape and health status, but also in diameter of main branches. Less suitable provenance seem to be 3 - Prusacka Rjeka, Banja Luka from Bosnia and Herzegovina (worse growth, stem nature pruning, cross-section and taper) and Croatian 5 - Juzna Kandija, Osijek (worse growth, stem shape, and health). The most important for explaining the differences between provenances were the diameter at the breast height, crown density and defoliation.