Latitudinal and altitudinal variation of bud burst in western populations of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt) Liebl)

Abstract

The phenology of bud burst in 50 populations of sessile oak has been studied in four provenance tests located in France. The authors obtained large variations between populations and these variations are linked to altitude, latitude and spring frost tolerance. The northern populations and those close to the sea level are the latest. These populations are more tolerant to the late spring frost.