Nguyen Hoang Nghia, Pham Quang Thu
Forest Science Institute of Vietnam
Betula alnoides Buch. Ham. ex D. Don has a natural distribution spreading from China, India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand to Vietnam. In China the species has a main distribution in Yunnan, Hainan Island and south Guangxi. In Vietnam, the species occurs naturally in hilly northern provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Son La and Lai Chau, at an elevation of 300-1000m a.s.l. The species also grows in some other areas such as Binh Dinh in central Vietnam and other provinces in the Western Highlands such as Gia Lai and Kon Tum.
Betula alnoides Buch. Ham. ex D. Don has fast growth rate, good stem form and attracts research interest from researchers for the development of large scale plantations in some countries. Seedlings require mycorrhiza for good growth in the nursery. Seedlings should be kept in the nursery from 150 to 180 days before planting. The species is usually planted with a density of 1100 or 1650 stems/ha, requires tending in the first 3 years and thinning at the age of 6-8 years. Six year old plantations in China can reach an average of up to 20cm in diameter and 15m height. This is also a promising species for planting programs in Vietnam. Since the 1980s, Chinese researchers have done much research relating to the species in Guangzhou and Yunnan provinces. Growth of the species is quite fast, reaching an average of 2-2.5cm per year in diameter and 1.5-2m in height. Plantation models established in Guangzhou, China with 3x3m spacing can reach up to 20cm in average diameter and 15m height.
Analyzing RAPD markers of 130 samples and in depth for 45 samples of the species collected from trials, has shown that families of different provenances have different genetic relations. They divided into two main groups: group No.1 has only one family, No.15/23 (Lingyun provenance, China) with a difference of 45% from other remaining families; and group No.2 included 44 remaining families with differences from 5% to 44%. Sub-group No.7 included families from Lingyun, Menghai (China) and Co Ma (Vietnam) provenances. Families from Ceheng provenance (China) are quite stable and grouped into sub-group No.4. Families from Chieng Bom provenance (Vietnam) are also stable and grouped into sub-group No.8. Other remaining samples from Lingyun, Menghai and Co Ma provenances showed high variation and are distributed in different sub-groups.
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