Morphogenetic variations of Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings depending on altitude

Abstract

Scotch pine is a primary species that spreads from sea level to very high altitudes in Turkey and has a very wide distribution area in the world. For this reason, it is important to investigate the variations of the species depending on the altitude. The research aims to determine the morphogenetic variations of the seedling characters in populations representing the vertical distribution area of Scotch pine and to reveal the within and among population variations in the vertical distribution areas. In the study, seedlings (three, four and five-year-old) grown from the seeds collected from five populations in the altitudinal zones up to 2,250 m from sea level in the natural distribution area of Scotch pine in Trabzon region were used. The seedling’s height, root collar diameter, the number of side branches and crown buds and sturdiness quotient were determined. As a result of the study, it was determined that there were statistically significant differences (p