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Home , Cedrus, Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libani

CRA.ISPIO/ Research Unit Roma “Ovile” Farm, Roma Research activities on the atlantica and provenances tests established in Italy.

Ernesto FUSARO C.R.A.–ISPIO/ Unità di ricerca forestale, Roma; E-mail: [email protected]; www..it Introduction

• The total area reforested with cedar in Italy (islands included) is estimated to amount to about 3500-4000 hectares.

• is the most widespread , followed by which covers about 500.

• Cedrus libani on the other hand, can only be found in Natural Parks and in the parks of the main historical villas of the Italian territory, often with imposing specimen over one hundred years of age. • Cedars are generally used as secondary species in the of small (1-2 ha) hilly and montainous areas, together with other such as , Pinus pinaster, Pinus pinea, Cupressus sempervirens, Aabies alba, Castanea sativa, Quercus ilex, Q. pubescens, Q. suber, Acer ssp, Fraxinus sp..

• Most reforested areas are 20-30 years old, but in some of the oldest plantations in Tuscany, Calabria and Sardinia there are evidences of natural regeneration. Aim of the experimental trials

• Most ecological-sylvicultural studies on areas reforested with cedar in Italy have been carried out by the CRA-Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura of Arezzo (Morandini and Mercurio, 1999; Cutini and Mercurio, 1994). • Research ISPIO of Roma, has been focused on the study of the genetic variability and on the assessment of the potential production of Cedrus species and provenances. Plantations established in Italy

1. 1982-83 Comparison between 14 provenances of Cedrus atlantica of (4 from Rif, 7 from the and 3 from realised in Tuscany, Lazio and Abruzzo.

2. 1994 Comparison between 12 provenances of Cedrus libani (6 from and 6 from ) and 7 of Cedrus atlantica (3 from Morocco, 3 from France and 1 from Italy) realised in Tuscany, Latium, Abruzzo and Calabria.

3. A clonal orchard was also established in Tuscany by grafting (Siniscalco, 1994) starting from an early selection of “plus” of provenances from Morocco, selected within the plantations established in Tuscany and Latium in 1982-83; 4. we also set up 2 maternal progeny tests of 35 “plus” trees from adult plantations located in Sardinia (1991 Tab.1: Provenances of Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus libani in the plantations managed by CRA/Ispio.RM.

Provenances Cedrus atlantica, Morocco Provenances Cedrus libani e C. atlantica Plantations 1983-84 Plantations 1994 1 Rif, Targuist,Tidiguine Cedrus libani 2 Rif, Targuist, Dah Doh Turchia 3 Rif, Targuist, Jebel-Aarz 1- Arslankoy-1 11 Rif, Targuist, Tizi-Ifri 2- Sutlegen 4 M.A., Taza, Tamtrouchte 3- Pozanti-06 5 M.A., Taza, Tamjelt 4- Ciglikara 6 M.A., Taza, Tafferte 5- Arslankoy-11 7 M.A. Itzer, Talharine 6- Gokyurt 8 M.A.,Itzer, Col du Zad Libano 9 M.A. Itzer, Tanourdi 7- Kammouah-W 13 M.A., Taza,Tizi Dini 8- Kammouah-E 10 A A, Tounfite, Idikel, 9- Hadeth el Jebbe 12 A.A., Tounfite, Bouagoua 10- Barcuk 14 A A, ITounfite, Ich N’Timghilte 11- Ain Zhalta 12- Niha Cedrus atlantica Marocco 13- Rif 14- Medio Atlante 15- Alto Atlante Francia 16- Ventoux-01 17- Ventoux-02 18- Lubèron Italia 19- San Severino M 20- Sardegna

Results

• In the trials the following aspects were monitored: • field rooting and biotic and abiotic damages; • height and diameter increment at different ages; • phenological stages and morphology of the needles. Proven. C. atlantica Marocco, 24 years Fig. 1: Cedrus atlantica - Morocco: mean height, by provenance, at

different ages

Fig. 1: Cedrus atlantica Marocco, prova monoalbero, az. Ovile-RM altezza media delle provenienze a diverse età

7,00

6,00

5,00 Età, m a, i 3 4,00 5

med 7 a 3,00 z

z 9 e t al 2,00

1,00

0,00 1234567891011121314 provenienze (in elenco nella tab.5: RIF n°1-2-3 e 13; MEDIO ATL. n°4-5-6-7-8-9 e 12; ALTO ATL. n°10-13 e 14) C. atlantica Marocco height of nineteen-year old F2: Cedrus atlantica Morocco. Differences between plantations in Latium (RM“Ovile”, single- plots, 50 m above sea level) and in Tuscany (FI “Rincine”, 1050 m above sea level).

Fig. 2: Cedrus atlantica, Marocco. Differenza di accrescimento in altezza a 19 anni, tra gli impianti di Ovile-RM e Rincine-FI

14,00

12,00

10,00 m a, 8,00 FI edi

m RM 6,00 zza e t

al 4,00

2,00

0,00 1234567891011121314

Provenienze (in elenco nella tab.5: RIF n°1-2-3 e 13; MEDIO ATL. n°4-5-6-7-8-9 e 12; ALTO ATL. n°10-13 e 14) Tab. 2: Circonferenza media a m 1,30 (cm) e altezza media (m) delle provenienze di Cedrus atlantica del Marocco a 19 anni, disposte in ordine

crescente secondo il test di Duncan (P=0,05).

Prov. Lazio n.oss. P= 0,05 Lazio P= 0,05 Toscana P= 0,05 P= 0,05 n° Blocchi circ. Duncan Monoal Duncan Blocchi Duncan Duncan Test b Test Proven, Bloc. Circ., Proven, Circ., Proven, n.oss. Circ., H, m n° +Mon. media,c n° n° circ. cm m RIF 164 ss 50,4 * 115 oss 52,6* 178c+68 54,38* 8,50 * h M. A. 330 ss 53,7 * 216 oss 60,2 * 393c+15 56,08* 8,91 ** 1h A.A. 96 oss 63,7 * 180c+70 56,85* 9,17 * h Bl. N° II 118 49,09* N°32 II 182 52,8* I 131 51,06** 8 gruppi IV 192 56,1* III 126 54,4 * Omog. III 191 56,8** IV 119 55,4 5,4,20... I 185 57,7 * * 26,16,17 Prov. Lazio n.oss. P= 0,05 Lazio P= 0,05 Toscana P= 0,05 P= n° Blocchi circ. Duncan Test Monoalb Duncan Blocchi Duncan 0,05 Test Duncan Proven, Bloc. Circ., Proven, Circ., Proven, n.oss. Circ., H, m n° + media,cm n° n° circ. cm Mon. 1- Rif 3 55+29 48,0* 11 48,6* 11 11 48,9* 8,7* 2- Rif 2 56+29 49,9** 2 52,2** 3 57 51,7* 8,1* 3- Rif 6 51+32 50,2** 1 53,3** 5 53 52,6 * 8,4* 11-Rif 4 54+51 52,2*** 3 54,6*** 2 53 54,1 * 8,5* 4- M. 8 55+31 53,1*** 13 55,9*** 9 57 54,3 * 8,8* A. 5- M. 1 53+31 53,5*** 4 56,9*** 14 59 54,8 * 9,0* A. 6- M. 5 55+32 53,9 ** 7 59,5*** 10 61 55,2 * 8,7* A. 7 M. A. 9 59+29 55,2 ** 5 61,2*** 8 60 55,9 * 9,1* 8- M. 7 56+32 57,3 * 9 61,3*** 7 51 56,2 * 8,6** A. 9- M. m 31 12 62,7*** 4 57 57,5 * 9,3** A. 13- M. m 26 6 63,3 * 13 13 57,7 * 8,8** A. 10- m 32 8 63,7 * 6 55 58,0 * 9,3** A.A. 12- m 30 10 63,7 * 1 57 58,4 * 8,9** A.A. 14-A.A. m32 14 64,1 * 12 59 60,7 * 9,8**

RIF 164 ss 50,4 * 115 oss 52,6* 178c+68h 54,38* 8,50 * M. A. 330 ss 53,7 * 216 oss 60,2 * 393c+151h 56,08* 8,91 ** A.A. 96 oss 63,7 * 180c+70h 56,85* 9,17 * Bl. N° II 118 49,09* N°32 II 182 52,8* I 131 51,06** 8 gruppi IV 192 56,1* III 126 54,4 * Omog. III 191 56,8** IV 119 55,4 * 5,4,20... I 185 57,7 * 26,16,17

Test of provenances Cedrus atlantica e C.libani, 1994 RISULTATI Cedrus atlantica e C.libani

Survivals, 9 Y.

Leban Moroc C. Locality Species on Turkey co France Italy Average C. atl. libani C.liban survival i C.libani C. atl. C. atl. C. atl. %

Survival 80,50 84,70 88,90 87,50 86,90 Tuscany % %77,10% % % % 81,8% % 78,8%

Survival 97,20 98,60 90,30 60,40 Latium % %96,50% % % % 92,5% 85,9% 96,9%

Survival 68,70 62,50 86,10 37,50 Calabrian % %63,90% % % % 67,3% 69,5% 66,6%

Survival 7920,0 % 82,1% % 81,9% 88,4% 61,5% 82,20% 80,9% 80,7% Tab. 5: Increments in height of ne-year old Cedrus atlantica and C.libani provenances in 4 comparison trials.

Accrescimento provenienze di cedrus atlantica e c. libani dopo 6 anni nelle quattro località di confronto

4

m 3,5

a, Ovile i 3

d 2,5 e Rincine 2 1,5 Acqua S 1 zza m 0,5 e Barisc. t 0 al 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1213 1415 16 1718 1920 provenienze 1-6 Turchia; 7-12 Libano; 13-15 Marocco; 16-18 Francia; 19-20 Italia Increments in height of nine-year old Cedrus atlantica and C.libani provenances in three

comparison trials.

provenienze di Cedrus libani e C. atlantica a 9 anni

7

6

5 Libano C.libani Turchia C.libani m 4 a ,

i Marocco C. atl. d e Francia C. atl. a m

z Italia C. atl.

z 3 e t C. atl. al C. libani 2

1

0 Toscana Lazio Calabria Località di confronto Increments in height of 9 year old Cedrus atlantica and C.libani provenances in three comparison trials. Data are ordered by progressive increase of mean height, following the test by Tukey (P = 0,05). Toscana Lazio Calabria

Libano 3,1 * Maroc. 3,94 * Libano 3,1 *

Italia 3,2 * Libano 4,67 * Italia 3,2 *

Marocco 3,6 * Italia 5,26 * * Maro 3,6 *

Turchia 3,8 * Franc. 5,54 * Turchia 3,8 * Francia 4 * Turc 5,78 * Francia 4 *

C. libani 2,8 * C. atlt. 4,9 C. lib 3,4 *

C. atlant 3,0 * C. lib 5,2 C. atlt 3,8 * Phenological observations • An evaluation of the phenological phases was carried out in the single-tree trial for comparison of provenances of Cedrus atlantica from Morocco for four consecutive years (spring 1985-1998) with the method by Debazac (1965) and Arbez et al. (1978).

• 7-15 days differences were noticed between the most early-sprouting provenances of the High Atlas (10-Idikel and 12-Bouagoua) and the most late-sprouting ones from the Medium Atlas (5- Tamjelt and 12-Col du Zad).

• phenological observations were carried out also in the trials for the comparison of provenances of C. libani and C. atlantica in Latium, in 1998 and 2005, and in the Abruzzi in 2005.

• In the plantation located in Rome, the provenances from Lebanon started sprouting between 20 and 30 March 2005, 15-20 days before the provenances from Turkey. morphological characteristics of the needles Proven Cedrus atl. Marocco

Prov. Regione/ Distretto/Località Altitudine Pioggia N° N° di Lunghez Peso m.s.l.m mm/anno aghi za secco mm % RIF 40,3* 21,3 45,0*

MEDIO 38,8* 21,4 47,4* ATL ALTO 34,7** 22,3 50,5** ATL. Discussion and conclusions

A)The experimental results obtained confirm the remarkable variability existing between the two species of cedar studied both as for growth and for phenological behaviour

B) Although these parameters are significantly influenced by the characteristics of the site and by the different levels of land fertility, but they are strongly controlled by genetic factors

C) The genetic variability is more remarkable between provenances of the same species than it is between the two species studied (both in terms of growth parameters and of phenological behaviour) . • As for supply and for future programs of selection and breeding, provenances of Cedrus atlantica Morocco from the Medium and the High Atlas must be favoured, as they proved to be more suitable for the Italian territory. • As far as Cedrus libani is concerned, it is the most late- sprouting Turkish provenances that must be favoured, which also show better growth rates and probably have a longer growing phase in autumn. Early-sprouting provenances from Lebanon are to be avoided, although they must be safeguarded for the conservation of the species biodiversity. • The following actions are coherent with the above objectives: • the conservation and exploitability (in terms of access, sample collection, data acquisition) of the plantations established which still are interesting from an experimental point of view; • the certification of the material produced or maintained; • the dissemination of the results obtained (scientific papers, workshops) and establishment of new trials on the basis of the knowledge acquired . • For cedar, like for the other Mediterranean conifers, an efficient strategy is to transform the experimental trials for comparison of provenances into seed orchards for first selection, where seed will be collected only from ‘plus’ plants of the best provenances.

Clonal orchard established in Tuscany by grafting. 22 years. SEE YOU TOMORROW in Ovile Farm, Roma