Geographical variability of larch in the experimental forest crops of the Republic of Bashkortostan

The results of studies carried out in 48-50-year-old geographical crops of larch in the Ufa forestry district of the Republic of Bashkortostan are presented in the article. The average capacity for survival of the object is 25 %. The highest capacity for survival (30–50 %) and successful growth have been shown by offspring originating from more southern regions (53°–54°10′N) relative to the test site. Assessment of the development of progeny 26 climatypes with the species belonging to the Arkhangelsk larch Larix archangelica Laws., the Siberian larch L. sibirica Ledeb. and hybrid forms of these species, Margilind larch L. marschlinsii Coaz, European larch L. decidua Mill., shows that for growing high-yielding larch crops in the conditions of the Bashkir Urals, it is advisable to use L. archangelica seeds and L. archangelica × L. sibirica, with allowable distances for transferring seeds relative to the area of their use approximately: from the south – up to 2°, from the north – up to 1°, and from the east – up to 3°40′. It is not inferior to the Bashkir populations of L. sibirica obtained from the Sonsky forestry district of the Republic of Khakassia. L. × marschlinsii exhibits a high adaptive capacity with initial origin from Great Britain. Morphological analysis of cones obtained from the settlement of Zapovednik enabled to detect a hybrid form of L. archangelica × L. sibirica with characteristics of Dahurian larch L. dahurica Laws. It should be noted that in the forest crop areas and those of collecting seeds the permissible difference between the heights above the sea level should not exceed 500–550 m. Also when growing mixed stands with a companion species, the heart-shaped linden Tilia cordata Mill should be preferred. In the progeny of the Bashkir climate types, there is a direct relationship between the factors of geographical origin and the size of the cones, while for the Siberian progeny this relationship is inverse. With the moving of the climatic types of origin to the north and east, the cones with wide-chested forms were observed in Bashkortostan, while narrow-scaled forms were found in Siberia