Intra- and interspecific variations of polycyclism in young trees of Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex. Carriere and Cedrus libani A. Rich (Pinaceae)

Growth pattern and polycyclism were studied for three French populations of Cedrus atlantica, and ten populations of Cedrus libani (seven Turkish and three Lebanese populations). The polycyclism rate and the length of annual shoots and growth units were recorded at two sites in France. There were significant variations in polycyclism rate and annual growth between the Turkish and Lebanese populations. Polycyclism appeared to be linked to the climatic conditions of the current growth year for French and Turkish populations, unlike the Lebanese populations. The Turkish populations have exhibited a greater stability as well at the between-station as at the between-year levels. Polycyclism appears as an adaptive trait of trees to difficult growth conditions. The construction of a dendrogram based on polycyclism and annual shoot length revealed two distinct main clusters corresponding to the different geographical origins. Polycyclism could be used in breeding and genetic improvement programmes of these species.