PHENOLOGIES OF 16 EUROPEAN PROVENANCES OF SESSILE OAK GROWING IN SCOTLAND

Budburst, budset, leaf yellowing, growth, and frost damage were assessed on 2- to 4-year-old transplants of 16 provenances of sessile oak (Quercus petraea) collected in six European countries and grown in Scotland. There were significant differences in dates of budburst between provenances. Provenances from France and Austria burst bud earlier than the others (P < 0.05). Budburst date was negatively correlated with altitude of provenance origin but positively correlated with latitude, indicating that southern provenances burst bud earlier than northern provenances and are therefore more prone to spring frost damage. Although there were no significant differences of growth between provenances, French provenances tended to grow later in autumn than provenances originating in other countries. Consequently plants from these French provenances were more badly damaged by autumnal frosts (P < 0.05) than plants from other provenances. Budset and leaf yellowing in late September were positively correlated.