Aučina, A., Riepšas, E., Danusevičius, J., Danusevičius, D., Gabrilavičius, R., Skridaila, A., Balčiūnienė, L., Žilinskaitė, S., Meidus, E., Meiduvienė, A., Ryliškis, D., Kuisys, T. and Dapkūnienė, S. 2005. Eco-genetic Variation of Development and Adaptedness Traits of Seedlings of Local Scots Pine Populations in Lithuania. Baltic Forestry 11 (1): 64-72

Reaction of progenies (seedlings) of different Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations at the juvenile stage on new climatic and microclimatic conditions was investigated. Differences in the development and adaptation parameters of seedlings of three most distant according to continentally (Telsiai, Labanoras, Veisiejai) populations from different geographical regions of Lithuania were revealed and genetic heritability of these traits was established. By variance analysis, the influence of climatic and microclimatic conditions of the environment on the general variation of traits of the seedlings has been found out. Due to a greater trait genetic variation, the selection of families inside populations can be more effective than between populations. In favorable microclimatic conditions (in the greenhouse) variation of growth and biological productivity parameters of seedlings is higher, therefore selection would be more effective on population, family and individual levels. Seedlings of the most continental Labanoras population surpass the representatives of Telðiai population formed in the maritime conditions and the southern Veisiejai population of medium continentally according to growth and biological productivity parameters. The Telðiai population was distinguished by-law growth and lower biological productivity. The survival of seedlings of different populations decreases from the north to the south: the seedlings of Telðiai population formed in the maritime conditions according to this parameter have an advantage over the representatives of the most continental (Labanoras) and medium continental (Veisiejai) populations. Different adaptation character of individual populations was observed. The general adaptation is typical of Labanoras population, because their progenies grow well in all regions. Low general adaptation character is typical of Telsiai population, that’s why it suitable to grow only in place of its origin. This population has a rather high phenotypic plasticity, because it has the greatest reaction to the changes of climatic conditions.

Key words: Scots pine seedlings, provenance, geographical transfer, genetic variation, heritability, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity.