Phenology and growth characteristics of seven clones of Populus deltoides in Astaneh Ashrafie, Guilan

Establishment of germplasm collection project was performed with planting of 64 Populus deltoides, P. euramericana, P. nigra and P. alba clones in Safrabaste Poplar Research Station in 1983. Five seedlings of each clone were planted in 5 m×5 m. This study conducted on seven P. deltoids clones. Phenological characteristics (flushing, flowering, seed bearing and leaf fall) were recorded every year up to the end of the study at 2005. Results showed that P.d. 69/55 and P.d. 73/51 were both the earliest and latest clones in flowering and seed bearing, while P.d. 69/55 was the earliest and P.d. 72/51 was the latest clones in flushing. Results of poplar clones growth showed that P.d. 73/51 and P.d.72.51 clones with 40.7 cm and 26.4 cm had the maximum and minimum DBH, respectively. Also P.d. 73/51 and P.d.72/51 clones with 28.7 m and 25.6 m had the maximum and minimum height growth, respectively. The P.d.73/51 and P.d.72/51 clones had the highest and lowest wood production with 32.07 and 13.01 m3ha-1yr-1, respectively.