Adaptive and phenotypic responses of white birch provenances to climate variations

Abstract

Trees have adapted to their local climate, but with changes in the climate may currently, or in the near future occupy climates that are sub-optimal for growth and survival. The goal of current reforestation is therefore to establish a new generation of trees with growth adapted to future climate(s). Seed from twenty-five white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) provenances collected across Canada were grown in the greenhouse and observed for emergence time, germination and elongation.