Eldarica Pine, Afghan Pine (Pinus eldarica Medw.)
Pinus eldarica Medw. (Fig. 1) is a fast-growing pine producing multiple products, one of the few pines adapted to grow in temperate semi-arid zones. It is known by the common names eldarica pine, Eldar pine, Quetta pine, and Afghanistan pine. Eldarica pin
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Eldarica Pine, Afghan Pine (Pinus eldarica Medw.)
G.c. PHILLIPS and H.J. GLADFELTER'
1 Introduction Pinus eldarica Medw. (Fig. 1) is a fast-growing pine producing multiple products, one of the few pines adapted to grow in temperate semi-arid zones. It is known by the common names e1darica pine, E1dar pine, Quetta pine, and Afghanistan pine. Eldarica pine is the preferred name (Fisher et al. 1986). Taxonomically, it is closely related to P. halepensis Mill and P. brutia Ten. Some classifications refer to e1darica pine as a separate species (see Fisher et al. 1986) while others consider it to be a subspecies of P. brutia (Panetos 1981). This complex is often referred to as the Pinus halepensis/ brutia group pines, classified taxonomically to the subgenus Pinus, section Pinus, subsection Sylvestres (Critchfield and Little 1966). 1.1 Importance of the Tree
Eldarica pine is adapted to calcareous soils possessing moderate alkalinity, and is tolerant oflow moisture conditions. In the southwestern USA, it grows at an average rate in excess of 1 m per year, averages six growth flushes and whorls per year, and increases bole diameter at breast height in excess of2 cm per year (Fisher et al. 1986). It matures and begins to produce seed in 4 to 5 years from seed (Brennan 1985). In the USA, eldarica pine is valued principally as a cut or potted Christmas tree and as an ornamental for landscaping (Widmoyer 1985; Clevenger et al. 1987). This pine has good shape, a desirable branching habit, an obvious central main stem, good needle retention, a deep green color throughout the year, and it shears well (Widmoyer 1985; Fisher et al. 1986). It is used to establish windbreaks, for reclamation and reforestation, and for biomass and energy (Widmoyer 1985; Clevenger et al. 1987). Eldarica pine shows potential to provide chemical extractives, or for the manufacture of particle board and paper pulp (Fisher 1985; Fisher et al. 1986). In developing countries, eldarica pine is valued principally for its nonornamenta1 benefits as a short-rotation wood and fuelwood crop, and for establishing windbreaks. It is estimated that nearly 5 million eldarica pine seedlings were planted or sold in the southwestern USA during 1985, with a wholesale market value in excess of$2 Associate Professor and former Graduate Research Assistant, respectively, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-0003, USA
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Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 16 Trees III (ed. by Y.P.S. Bajaj) © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1991
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G.c. Phillips and H.1. Gladfelter
Fig. 1. Pinus eldarica tree reaching maturity in year four, grown in Las Cruces, New Mexico
million annually (Clevenger et al. 1987). Of these seedlings, it is estimated that 17% were used for Christmas tree production. At a retail price of$30 per cut tree (2 min height) and up to $50 per potted tree, the Christmas tree market is valued at more than $15 million annually in the southwestern USA, after adj
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