Siberia is the area with the largest geographic distribution of Larix species. Provenance trials began about 30 years ago thanks to efforts of V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest.
Provenances and species of Larix were tested in a field trial network distributed over Siberia between Lat. N 52 and 66, Long. E 88 and 113: near Krasnoyarsk, in Republic Khakasia (altitudes ranging from 800 to 1200 metres), in the Lower Yenisei valley near Turukhansk, in the west and south regions of Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Upper Lena valley, near Chita.
Large emphasis was put to 55 provenances of Larix sibirica, 20 of L. gmelinii and 12 of L. sukaczewii. Tests also included 5 provenances of L. cajanderi, 4 of L. leptolepis and 2 of L. x czekanowskii. The native provenances had the best growth and survival in most cases but some provenances from other regions were superior in height growth, often in the first years. A few provenances of L. sukaczewii showed for example very good height increment.
The provenances L. cajanderi from north-eastern regions of Siberia (Yakutia, Magadan district) and L. sibirica from high altitude sites of Altai showed very bad growth and survival. They died mostly in the first years. Trees of many provenances are damaged with bud gall midge (Dasyneura rozhkovi).
Key words: provenance, species, larch, Siberia.
Correspondence: Leonid Milyutin, V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Academgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 660036
Telefax: +7-3912-433686
E-mail: dndr@ifor.krasnoyarsk.su