A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATES TO SYNTHETIC VARIETY-POPULATIONS IN THE SCOTS PINE VARIETY TESTS IN GUTYANSKE FOREST ENTERPRISE

The article presents the results of the examination of Scots pine progenies from nine clonal seed orchards (CSO) and one permanent forest seed stand (PFSS), which were potential synthetic variety-populations, as well as of their regional control variants (Kharkiv, Kyiv, Rivne and Volyn regions). All the progenies were tested in the Gutyanske Forest Enterprise in Kharkiv region. Mensuration and breeding indicators and state and level of resin productivity were estimated. At the age of 20, three out of ten potential variety-populations exceeded local control by the heights and diameters. The variants from the eastern and central regions were better than western ones by the breeding structure and state category. Only one candidate to the variety-population exceeded local control by the level of resin productivity, the rest ones were somewhat lower. In seven variants, the proportion of trees with higher resistance to phytopathology, in particular, to the annosum root rot, were higher (Pst = 45…50 %) than in the control (Pst = 40 %). The correlation between the resin productivity and the growth characteristics were weak (for diameter, r = 0,32 ± 0,055; for height, r = 0,17 ± 0,057). The results of integrated point assessment of candidates to variety-populations indicated the feasibility of using seeds from CSO and PFSS to create Scots pine stands to be potentially resistant to phytopathogenic diseases.