Seed Source Variation for Height and Crown Traits of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Abstract Four-year-old open-pollinated progeny of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) from several elevations on each of five mountains were planted at three locations in western North Carolina. Total height, crown diameter, branch diameter, number of branch buds, number of buds in theterminal cluster, and tree crown density factor all varied significantly by seed source. Low elevation sources (5000-5500 ft) grew taller and had larger crowns than the high elevation seed sources (6000 and 6500 ft). The seed sources collected from Roan Mountain, the area most often used forcommercial seed collection, were significantly poorer than the best seed sources for total height, crown diameter, and density factor. Seed source x location interactions were significant for total height, crown diameter, number of buds in the terminal cluster, and branch diameter, but thebest seed sources were generally the same in all tests. South. J. Appl. For. 17(1):5-9.