Pinus halepensis × Pinus brutia subsp. brutia hybrids? Identification using morphological and biochemical traits.

The aim of this study was to verify whether trees which exhibit very vigorous growth are F 1 -hybrids of Pinus halepensis X Pinus brutia, and to what extent they differ from typical P. brutia subsp. brutia trees growing in the same plantations and from typical native P. halepensis MILL. trees. Comparison of data regarding morphological traits and isoenzyme analysis of biological material taken from P. halepensis, P. brutia and the very vigorously growing trees, provided evidence that the trees targeted are F 1 -hybrids. The results indicate that the seed used to establish these P. brutia forest plantations was probably imported from sites in Greece where P. halepensis and P. brutia grow in geographic proximity.