Abstract:
In this paper, the
Cunninghamia unicanaliculata clones in China were used as research material. The DBH, tree height and crown width of 870 38-year-old clones from 30 clones were statistically analyzed, and the growth difference between different clones was analyzed from the allometric growth index. The mean values of DBH, tree height, and crown width of the 30 clones were 28.24 cm, 19.18 m, and 5.18 m, respectively, and the mean coefficient of variation was 0.29, 0.19, and 0.24, respectively. The analysis of the relationship between DBH-tree height and DBH-crown width allometric growth showed that the growth rate of DBH was significantly higher than that of tree height and crown width, indicating that the allometric growth trajectories of the DBH, tree height and crown width among the clones have changed significantly. The SMA slope between DBH-crown width and DBH-tree height was not the same among different clones, except DBH-tree height of clones 16 and 28, the differences was significant (P<0.05), and there was no consistent growth distribution rate among 30 clones. The difference in allometric growth relationships among clones lead to different growth distribution patterns, which further reflected the ecological plasticity of environment to the growth of various components and the existence of rich genetic variations in clone growth traits, threrfore providing the possibility for the early selection of superior clones of
Cunninghamia unicanaliculata.