Ranking of European beech provenances in Croatia using statistical analysis and analytical hierarchy process

A provenance experiment of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was established in Croatia in 1998 as part of an international network of beech provenance trials. Of the 36 provenances present in the trial, six were selected for the presentation of a new method for assessing their adaptability: easternmost (Ukraine UK-59), westernmost (France F-5), northernmost (Sweden S-23), two southernmost (Croatia, easternmost CR-3 and westernmost CR-18) and one central (Czech Republic CZ-51). The selection was made by choosing the minimal number of most distant provenances from the area of the natural distribution range of beech. Flushing as an indicator of physiological character was monitored in seven phenophases, which were recorded on seven dates during the years 2000 and 2001. The differences in entering phenophase 3 (indicating the very beginning of flushing when plant is most sensitive to frost) were analysed using a product limit estimator. The six analysed provenances may be classified into three different groups: early flushing (CR-3, CZ-51), intermediate flushing (CR-18, UK-59) and late flushing (F-5, S-23). The provenances were then ranked with Analytical Hierarchy Process in order to select the most adaptable one using the following criteria: survival, date entering phenophase 3 and mean height.