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A field test with 26 provenances of subalpine fir and corkbark fir was established at three sites in Denmark and one site in Iceland in 1999. Survival, growth and Christmas tree quality were assessed after 10 growing seasons in Denmark and 12 in Iceland. Provenances showed significant differences for all measured traits. The western-most subalpine fir provenances from Washington state and British Columbia showed the overall best results in Denmark with the highest survival (after 15 years), fastest growth in height and highest Christmas tree quality and profitability as well as both good postharvest needle retention and high resistance to pests. The corkbark fir provenances also showed high Christmas tree quality and the lowest frequency of fork formation, but corkbark fir provenances also exhibited the poorest postharvest needle retention. In Iceland, the corkbark fir provenances generally showed the highest survival rate and Christmas tree quality. The White River provenance from British Columbia is recommended for use in Denmark. The Mount Taylor provenance from the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico is recommended for use in Iceland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic potential of 35 seed lots from Danish landraces of Nordmann fir [Abies nordmanniana (Stev.) Spach.] and seven imported provenances were evaluated for high-value Christmas tree production over a full rotation at six locations in Denmark. Naturally grown Christmas trees were evaluated and no leader length control or trimming of the side branches was allowed, but only simple cutting of double terminal leaders. Seed source as well as site strongly affected the economic revenue. Average net sales price per planted tree ranged over sites from €2.43 to €6.64, and among provenances from €1.38 to €7.06 with an average of €4.95. Changes in prices and grading as seen under cycling market conditions seemed not to affect the economic ranking of the better part of the provenances, whereas discounting the net sales income caused moderate rank changes, reflecting differences in rotation time. Limited seed source by site interactions were present and mainly caused by the slowest growing sources. Among the Danish domesticated seed sources of mostly unknown origin several were as suitable as the tested imported sources. In general, the Danish sources were faster growing than imports, although very large variation was present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]