Objective The adaption and growth variation of the species and provenances in Picea were tested in order to select the suitable species and provenances for interior cultivation.
Method Early evaluation experiments in twenty provenances of six species including Picea abies, P. mariana, P. glauca, P. pungens, P. koraiensis and P. crassfolia in Xiaolongshan Shaba Experimental Base in Gansu province were carried out. The variation and correlation were made on the height, diameter at ground-level (Dg), height increment and crown at 6, 7 and 9 years old.
Result The differences among the growth traits of the species and provenances in Picea at the age of 6, 7 and 9 years old were all extremely significant, indicating larger genetic variation existed among the species and provenances. Seven elite provenances were selected using height and diameter as the main traits. The realized genetic gain of their height and diameter were bigger than 11%. There was significantly positive correlation between height and latitude or longitude for P. abies, P. glauca and P. mariana. The average height of P. abies or P. glauca had negative correlation with the elevation, but no correlation between the average height of P. mariana and elevation.
Conclusion The best provenances of P. abies, P. glauca, and P. mariana derived from latitude 49°16'~58°38'N and longitude 68°13'~118°24'W are suitable to be introduced and cultivated in Xiaolongshan of Gansu province.
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