Research On Variation Of Geographical Provenances Of Taiwania Flousiana Gaussen

Taiwania flousiana Gaussen is one of relict plants in ancient tropical plant flora in the tertiary and belongs to the first classes of species of state-protection. Because of its strong adaptability, easy reproduction, fast growth, good wood properties and less plant diseases and pests, Taiwania flousiana is one of important species in Mountains areas of Southern China for its fast plantation, landscape forest and water-protected forest.Nine provenances of Taiwania flousiana were collected from different provinces in China in this study and planted in three locations in Hubei Province, i.e. Wuhan, Wufeng County and Xiangfan. The properties of height growth, branches characteristics, roots characteristics and growth adaptation in the stages of its seedlings and its juvenile stand were observed and these properties were compared with Cunninghamia lanceolata in the trial. It is very important to know the geographical variant patterns of Taiwania flousiana and its variant range for selecting better provenances in its fast plantation culture, selecting better growing sites, protection of its provenances and finding specific better gene in its resources. Results are as following:Remarkable differences were found among provenances of Taiwania flousiana in the stages of its seedlings and its juvenile stand. There is a great selecting probability among its provenances. In trial locations the increment from Yunnan provenance was 13% in tree height and 12% in DBH greater than the mean value of all provenances. The volume of Timber was 0.0436m3 in 13 old years stand, which was 0.0114m3 greater than the mean value of all provenances. The genetic gain of its best provenance was 35.6%. There were remarkable differences in increments between provenances of Taiwania flousiana and Cunninghamia lanceolata. In increment of tree height the best provenance was from Getou County of Guizhou Province and it was 36.2% higher than Cunninghamia lanceolata. In DBH the best was from Jiaomi of Guizhou and it was 21% greater than Cunninghamia lanceolata. Its timber volume per hectare was 57.7m3 more than Cunninghamia lanceolata.The increments of Taiwania flousiana provenances were closely related to the latitude and longitude. In trial stand of 13 years old Taiwania flousiana provenances, the height increment was medium and linear related negative to latitude and longitude and DBH was related negative to latitude and longitude, which were significant at 0.1 level. Heightincrement was medium related to their elevation, temperature and precipitation. DBH was linear related to their elevation and temperature, which were found to be significant at 0.1 level.Increment of Taiwania flousiana is increasing yearly in the trial stand. Taiwania flousiana grows slowly before 3 years old. Their height and DBH increase very fast after that stage. Its volume increases very fast also. The annual increment in volume was 0.00382m3 in 10years old, 0.00799m3 in 12 years old and 0.01176m3 in 13 years old.The provenances of Taiwania flousiana are strong in ecological adaptability.Taiwania flousiana is suitable to culture in different sites from Jianghan Plain at 60m above sea level to medium and lower mountains area at 800m above sea level. It is able to grow in different kinds of soils such as sand soil, loam, yellow clay and alleviation soil with properties of medium and a little alkali. It possesses a some ability to be endured with alkali soil.