Effects of spacing and genetic entry on radial growth and ring density development in Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.)

• Introduction  

The objective of this work was to study how spacing and genetic entry and/or origin group affect radial growth (ring width and cumulative diameter development) and ring density from pith to bark in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and in what sense their annual variability could be explained by the climatic variables. The spacing trial was located in central Finland, with current stand density range of 2,000–4,000 trees per hectare. All the six genetic entries had Kanerva pine (plus tree S1101) as a father tree, whereas the mother tree represented Finnish plus trees from southern, central and northern Finland.