Growth Trait Variation of Picea asperata at Seedling Stage and Provenance Selection

10 growth traits of the 7-year-old seedlings of 17 Picea asperata provenances were measured to analyze the growth feature variation, geographical variation modes of the provenances for provenance planning and selection during the seedling stage.The growth traits included basal diameter, seedling height, length of annual shoot, number of first grade branches, number of second grade branches, diameter of the biggest lateral root, above ground biomass and the underground biomass.The results indicated that there were extremely significant differences in the 8 studied indices among the provenances, and it was showed that basal diameter, seedling height, length of annual shoot and the above ground biomass were the most important growth indices.There was extremely significant negative correlation between the basal diameter growth and the annual precipitation, and there were also extremely significant negative correlations between the number of first grade branches, the above ground biomass and the annual precipitation respectively.The 17 provenances of Picea asperata investigated could be divided into 4 groups by means of cluster analysis, and they were ranked in order according to the comprehensive indices composed of 10 growth characteristics.The comprehensive indices can be applied to preliminary selection of the 17 provenances at seedling stage.