Superior provenance and plus tree selection for Betula alnoides in southern Fujian China

The 14-year-old provenance and family test plantation of Betula alnoides in Fujian Hua'an Jinshan National Forest Farm was investigated. Tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), individual volume, height to crown base, crown diameter, crown form index, stem form index and branching index, were analyzed for all 25 provenances tested. The superior provenances were selected: Provenance G (Tengchong) performed the best, followed by Provenance L (Jiangcheng) with the best stem form; Provenance U (Pingguo), J (Fengqing), R (Tianlin), C (Mojiang) and P (Longzhou) were the alternative. These provenances were not severely damaged by trunk borer. It is suggested the seeds for nursery should be collected from the Provenance G or L for plantation forestry of B. alnoides in Southern Fujian, and Provenance U, J, R, C and P could be used for the alternative seed sources. 182 plus trees were also screened out and could be applied for grafting and tissue culture.