Preliminary phenotypic characterization of Sorbus domestica and S. torminalis under selection for timber production

The current timber production in Italy covers only 20% of the national demand. The national timber industry has been trying to increase the domestic production of sliced veneer logs from indigenous broadleaved species, which are largely employed by furniture and interior design industry. The present work shows the first results concerning the phenotypic characterization of Sorbus domestica, S. torminalis under selection in the Po Valley (northern Italy) for timber production. Thirty-one S. domestica seedlings from three provenances. Toscanella (northern Apennines, Italy), Serbia (Research Institute of Serbia) and Oxford (United Kingdom). One hundred and twenty five S. torminalis seedlings from a single mother plant, belonging to the Northern Apennine (Italy), evaluated ,were classified for annual diameter and height increase, according to these results into three groups.. S. domestica seedlings (Ideotypes) were also evaluated for environmental adaptation trait and suitability for timber production, according to a superior phenotypes scoring method. Six S. domestica 'high value' Ideotypes, scoring 20% -42% in respect to the comparison trees, were selected