Ecological properties of Pinus nigra ssp pallasiana var. seneriana

Abstract

In this study, the ecological properties of Pinus nigra ARN. ssp. pallasiana (LAM.) HOLMBOE var. seneriana (SAATCIOGLU) YALTIRIK, one of the endemic plants in Turkey, has been studied. To determine the biological characters, needle, cone and seed morphology of the plant were used as main characters. Bioclimate, soil, dead layer characters and floristic composition of the distribution area were used to determine the ecological characters. P. nigra ssp. pallasiana var. seneriana, shows a distribution in Bolu, Manisa and Kutahya at an altitude of 800 m to 1250 m. It is a tree that has many stems branching from the base, with rounded or spherical, wide top and also close branches. Average needle length is 82.2 mm with 1.3 mm width. Average cone length is 51.2 mm with 26.8 mm width. The annual precipitation is 487.1 mm to 702.7 mm and annual temperature is 10.2 degreesC to 16.9 degreesC in the area. In the whole distribution area, rendsina soil type is dominant, besides this, Braunerde, Gale braunerde, Meridional braunerde and Terra Rossa of soils exist as well. Almost 65% of the determined plants showed wide distribution, 11.2% of them are Euro-Siberia, 12.9% is Mediterranean, 11.2% are Irano-Turanian element and the endemical ratio is 9.5%. In seed germination experiments, it was found that there is no inhibition on germination. Germination ratio decreased in the dark period. Low concentration (0.5%) of NaCl, HCl and KNO3 did not have any effect on seed germination percent, however at high concentration of these solutions, seed germination is inhibited, and at all concentration of H2SO4, germination is inhibited.