COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

genetic diversity patterns in Hungary strongly support the sweeping effect of extreme selection, close
to the xeric limits of distribution for beech. At numerous isozyme loci, decline of heterozygosity and
allelic diversity has been found (Borovics, Mátyás, unpubl.).
Phenology and growth of local populations can be assessed in provenance tests. In Hungary, one test
of the international series of 1998 has been outplanted in Bucsuta, Zala hills, Southwest Hungary. The
test shows the generally vigorous growth of Hungarian provenances, which may be linked to better
utilization of the vegetation season (Fig. 4). Beside relatively fast juvenile growth, a higher number of
buds and shoots, and larger leaf area seem to be characteristic at early age. Judging on mature stands,
stem quality in Hungary is strongly varying and shows no clear trend (Mátyás 2002).
Hungarian beech populations are among the early flushing sources. The provenance Magyaregregy
from the southernmost occurrence (Mecsek Mts.) was the earliest among all provenances at Bucsuta
in the year shown in Figure 3. The repeated phenology assessments indicate that although rank
changes between years occur, trends are maintained, but with changing level of discrimination.
Differentiation among sources depends on spring weather conditions: slow, gradual increase of heat
sum yields the best discrimination.
The Central Agricultural Office established with 8 local sources a similar test with larger, 0.1 ha plots in
the same year (1998) in Bucsuta and two other sites in NE Hungary. There are no results available yet.
Fig. 4: Average phenotype of a continental (Nr. 52 Magyaregregy, Hungary, mean H: 3.52 m, left) and of an
Atlantic provenance (Nr. 13 Soignes, Belgium, mean H: 2.62 m, right) at age of 8 years from planting in
the Bucsuta experiment. The Hungarian population shows denser crown structure and more vigorous
growth (Photo archive Mátyás)
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