Table 2 Provenance effect and least square means values (LS means) ± standard deviations (SD) of the variables measured before inoculation (growth traits and physiological variables). Degrees of freedom (DF), F values, and significance level are presented. Within each row, significant differences (p < 0.05) are designated by different letters

 Basal diameter (mm)

15.78 ± 0.30 a

13.4 ± 0.30 c

14.02 ± 0.30 bc

14.74 ± 0.30 b

14.10 ± 0.30 bc

13.86 ± 0.30 c

 Tree height until previous year’s growth (cm)

54.29 ± 1.48 b

55.92 ± 1.48 b

63.66 ± 1.48 a

42.55 ± 1.48 c

58.37 ± 1.48 b

57.32 ± 1.48 b

 Total height (cm)

88.74 ± 1.45 c

101.63 ± 1.45 a

100.76 ± 1.45 a

79.82 ± 1.45 d

86.50 ± 1.45 c

96.05 ± 1.45 b

 Growth from the previous year growth until inoculation date (cm)

34.45 ± 1.40 c

45.71 ± 1.40 a

37.11 ± 1.40 bc

37.26 ± 1.40 bc

28.13 ± 1.40 d

38.74 ± 1.40 b

 Number of branches

16.24 ± 0.69 a

9.45 ± 0.69 c

14.32 ± 0.69 ab

16.11 ± 0.69 a

13.18 ± 0.69 b

9.55 ± 0.69 c

 Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/fm)^a

0.82 ± 0.04

0.81 ± 0.04

0.79 ± 0.04

0.83 ± 0.04

0.78 ± 0.04

0.77 ± 0.04

 Oleoresin flow (mm)

104.61 ± 22.28 a

32.16 ± 22.28 bc

38.97 ± 22.28 bc

34.07 ± 22.28 bc

92.88 ± 22.28 ab

20.21 ± 22.28 c

 Water potential (MPa)

− 0.30 ± 0.02

− 0.33 ± 0.02

− 0.35 ± 0.02

− 0.33 ± 0.02

− 0.35 ± 0.02

− 0.33 ± 0.02