Performance of seedlings from natural and afforested populations ofCupressus sempervirensunder different temperature and moisture regimes

摘要: For successful afforestation programs seed quality is crucial, but seedlings are susceptible to climatic stress. Therefore, improve success it necessary compare performance of from natural and cultivated populations under different conditions. We investigated growth in three four afforested Syrian Cupressus sempervirens L. temperature moisture regimes. A “warm” climate chamber approximately simulated current mean annual temperatures (day/night: 20/10°C) while a “hot” an average increase 5°C 25/15°C). Seedlings were irrigated twice (drier) or thrice (moist) weekly. provenances outperformed those stands all variables both chambers. In the warm chamber, root length biomass not affected by irrigation for population types, shoot height decreased drier treatment slightly increased seedlings. hot types treatment. Comparison between two chambers showed that at higher temperatures, significantly different. The same response was observed moist treatment, too. Our results emphasize necessity protect remaining forest C. sempervirens Syria recommend systematic collection material programs. This might also hold ex situ cultivation retrieving rare endangered plant species.