Weinstein, A., Department of Natural Resources, ARO, Bet Dagan 50-250, Israel

Phenological stages of 22 provenances of Pinus halepensis Mill., 14 provenances of P. brutia Ten. and one provenance of P. eldarica Medw. were observed during two growing seasons (1984, 1985) in the Judean Foothills (Nahshon); phenological stages from five Israeli and one Yugoslavian native locations of P. halepensis and one of P. brutia were observed during one season (1987) in the Coastal Plain (Ilanot). Provenances of P. halepensis and P. brutia flower and develop vegetative buds in variable patterns in different years. The provenances of P. halepensis from high altitudes in Morocco and Spain have a tendency to flower at the same time and to develop vegetative buds simultaneously. The same tendency was observed in the provenances from Tunisia, which probably belong to a separate North African race in Algeria, and in P. brutia from high altitudes in Greece and Turkey. Provenances of P. halepensis, found within the East European race, are influenced by introgression. These provenances and trees from natural stands in Israel with specific resin monoterpene composition, have distinct periods of bud development. Pinus brutia flowered distinctly later than P. halepensis, although a complete phenological isolation does not occur. Pinus eldarica develops vegetative buds earlier than P. halepensis and P. brutia but it flowers during periods close to these two species. © 1989.