Relation between genetic structure and susceptibility to air pollution of European Pinus sylvestris populations from a IUFRO-1982 provenance experiment

Results are presented of genetic variation and relation between genetic parameters with growth, survival and needle necroses of 11 European Pinus sylvestris populations growing in a provenance experiment established in 1984 in western Poland. One site was near a phosphate fertilizer factory, and other in an area free of acute air pollution. A significant differences were found between studied sites in number of alleles per locus, expected and observed heterozygosity, genotype polymorphism indices (all p < 0.1) and in tree height (p < 0.0001). On average all genetic parameters were higher for polluted site than for a control one. Differences in observed heterozygosity were related to height growth decline and plant mortality.