%0 Research article
%T Micropropagated silver birches (Betula pendula) in the field – performance and clonal differences
%A Viherä-Aarnio, Anneli
%A Velling, Pirkko
%D 2001
%J Silva Fennica
%V 35
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.576
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/576
%X Micropropagated and seed-born silver birches (Betula pendula Roth) were  compared for survival, height growth and occurrence of biotic damage  (voles, hares, mooses, stem lesions and cankers) in field trials in  southern Finland. The material consisted of 11 clones and 10 different  lots of seedlings growing in 10 field trials, established in clear-cut  forest cultivation areas. The plants were 6–7 years old. The  micropropagated and seed-born material types did not significantly  differ from each other as regards survival, height growth and  frequencies of damage caused by biotic agents. Large and significant  differences were, however, detected in survival, height and frequencies  of all types of biotic damage between single clones. Careful selection  and testing of birch clones in field conditions is recommended before  wide-scale commercial micropropagation and practical forest cultivation  takes place.