The effect of provenance on the performance of Crataegus monogyna in hedges

Abstract

Summary 1.Grants for wildlife enhancement in the British Isles have supported the widespread planting of new hedges along field margins. However, much of the planted material, particularly of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna , has been obtained from the continental mainland of Europe. There is a need to assess the implications of this practice for hedgerow performance and for the conservation of indigenous genetic variation. 2. One local ecotype and eight commercial provenances (four British and four continental European) of hawthorn were planted in an experimental hedge at both an exposed upland site and a sheltered lowland site. Sections of hedge were planted with or without fencing and with or without mulching in all combinations. Growth and thorniness were assessed over 3 years, and phenology and disease over 2 years. 3. At both sites, the most locally obtained provenance had the latest bud-burst, exhibited the least severe symptoms of mildew and was the most thorny. It also showed the greatest height increment at the upland site, but was relatively slow-growing at the lowland site.4. An imported Hungarian provenance had early bud-burst, showed a high growth rate and suffered the most severe mildew. A commercially obtained British native provenance was aberrant in its extremely early bud-burst and other attributes comparable with the Hungarian provenance, indicating the possibility of misidentification at some stage of production or supply. 5. In the absence of fencing, at the upland site hawthorn mortality was 100% compared with only 3% at the lowland site. In fenced plots there was c. 320% greater growth when mulching was used. 6. The results suggest that for greater establishment success and hence cost benefits in hedge planting, as well as for greater environmental benefits, there should be closer matching of hawthorn provenance to the planting site. The use of commercial material has demonstrated that locally provenanced material can be superior to any commercially available material, and that the current state of the commercial sector is insufficient to enforce the necessary controls over provenance of material used for hedge renovation.

Conservation Approaches For Autochthonous Woody Plants in Flanders

“…The resulting planting stock may be less well adapted to the regional growing conditions (e.g. JONES et al, 2001). Especially in Flanders, largescale planting of non-autochthonous provenances of native woody species can be a threat for relict autochthonous populations.…”

A question of origin: Where and how to collect seed for ecological restoration

“…For example, provenance trials of trees and shrubs showed that stock of British origin is better adapted to British conditions than continental stock (e.g. Jones, Hayes, & Sackville Hamilton 2001;Worrell 1992). Here we use the term 'local' as a synonym for autochthonous, i.e.…”

Conservation measures for Rosa arvensis Huds. in Flanders (Belgium) based on congruent genetic and phenotypic population differentiation

“…Boshier and Stewart 2005;Savolainen et al 2007) and similar studies of woody species with no relevant economic importance are largely lacking in many parts of Europe including Flanders, although a few examples do exist (e.g. Crataegus monogyna: Jones et al 2001). In the absence of long-term provenance tests, putative local adaptation can be addressed by an assessment of intraspecific differentiation in populations both at the genetic and phenotypic level.…”