Evaluation of seed production in a first-generation seed orchard of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis)

Abstract

We evaluated seed production in a first-generation orchard of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) during the crucial transition period from first generation to advanced generations. Clones varied significantly in all traits related to seed production. Repeatability of these traits ranged from 0 to 0.96. Seed production per ramet (SPPR), seed producing index (SPI), the number of relative female strobili (RFS), the number of scales, and the number of ineffective scales had comparatively high repeatability at 0.86, 0.87, 0.89, 0.96, and 0.91, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that SPPR was greatly influenced by RFS and by the number of full seeds per cone. Finally, we showed that SPI was the best predictor of the seed-producing ability of clones. Our findings will assist seed orchard managers in effectively predicting and improving seed production of Chinese pine seed orchards.

Keywords

Chinese pine / Cone / Heritability / Pinus tabuliformis / Seed orchard / Seed production

References

[1] Askew GR. Estimation of gamete pool compositions in clonal seed orchards. Silvae Genet, 1988, 37(5–6): 227-232.

[2] Bilir N, Lindgren D, Kroon J (2007) Variation in seed related characters in clonal seed orchards of Pinus sylvestris. In seed orchards-genetic considerations on function, management and seed procurement (Doctoral Thesis, Prescher, F.) Part XI, Umea

[3] Boake CRB. Repeatability: its role in evolutionary studies of mating behavior. Evol Ecol, 1989, 3: 173-182.

[4] Bramlett DL. Cone crop development records for six years in shortleaf pine. For Sci, 1972, 18: 31-33.

[5] Bramlett DL. Protection of pine seed orchards in the southeastern United States. For Ecol Manag, 1987, 19: 199-208.

[6] Burczyk J, Chalupka W. Flowering and cone production variability and its effect on parental balance in a Scots pine clonal seed orchard. Ann For Sci, 1997, 54: 129-144.

[7] Chen BW, Zheng Y, Shen XH. Studies on selection methods and criteria of plus trees in Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. J Beijing For Univ, 1992, 14(1): 7-13.

[8] Kang KS. Clonal and annual variation of flower production and composition of gamete gene pool in a clonal seed orchard of Pinus densiflora. Can J For Res, 2000, 30: 1275-1280.

[9] Kang KS, Lindgren D. Fertility variation among clones of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis S. et Z.) and its implications on seed orchard management. For Genet, 1999, 6(3): 191-200.

[10] Kang KS, Lindgren D, Mullin TJ. Fertility variation, genetic relatedness, and their impacts on gene diversity of seeds from a seed orchard of Pinus thunbergii. Silvae Genet, 2004, 53(5–6): 202-206.

[11] Kranntz PG, Duralia TE. Cone and seed production in Pinus ponderosa: a review. West N Am Nat, 2004, 64(2): 208-218.

[12] Li GF, Zhang HX, He YF, Han HJ, Jia LJ. Clonal variation in conelet yield and evaluation of yield stability in Pinus tabulaeformis seed orchard. Acta Agric Univ Henan, 1996, 30(1): 57-64.

[13] Li W, Wang XR, Li Y. Stability in and correlation between factors influencing genetic quality of seed lots in seed orchard of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. over a 12-year span. PLoS One, 2011, 6(8): 1-9.

[14] Lyons LA. The seed production capacity and efficiency of red pine cones (Pinus resinosa). Can J Bot, 1956, 34: 27-36.

[15] Matziris D. Genetic variation in cone and seed characters in a clonal seed orchard of Aleppo pine grown in Greece. Silvae Genet, 1998, 47(1): 37-41.

[16] Nikkanen T, Routsalainen S. Variation in flowering abundance and its impact on the genetic diversity of the seed crop in a Norway spruce seed orchard. Silva Fenn, 2000, 34(3): 205-222.

[17] Niu SH, Li ZX, Yuan HW, Chen XY, Li Y, Li W. Transcriptome characterisation of Pinus tabuliformis and evolution of genes in the Pinus phylogeny. BMC Genom, 2013, 14: 263-274.

[18] Shen XH, Li Y, Wang XR. Study on flowering habit of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. in the seed orchard located in Xingcheng County, Liaoning province. J Beijing For Univ, 1985, 3: 1-13.

[19] Sivacioglu A, Ayan S. Evaluation of seed production of Scots pine (Pinus sylvetris L.) clonal seed orchard with cone analysis method. Afr J Biotechnol, 2008, 7(24): 4393-4399.

[20] Sivacioglu A, Ayan S, Celik DA. Clonal variation in growth, flowering and cone production in a seed orchard of Scots pine (Pinus sylvetris L.) in Turkey. Afr J Biotechnol, 2009, 8(17): 4084-4093.

[21] Wang XR, Shen XH. Studies on pollen dispersal of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. in Xingcheng seed orchard located in a mountainous area. Sci Silvae Sin, 1987, 23(1): 1-10.

[22] Wang XR, Shen XH. Studies on increasing seed production in seed orchards of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr—an analysis of seed losses caused by aborted ovules and emptied seeds. J Beijing For Univ, 1989, 11(3): 60-65.

[23] Wang SS, Shen XH, Yao LH, Li Y, Li JG, Li AD. A comparative study on growth patterns of Pinus tabulaeformis clones in Xingcheng seed orchard, Liaoning province. J Beijing For Univ, 1985, 4: 72-83.

[24] Yuan HW, Li ZX, Fang P, Li W, Li Y. Variation and stability in female strobili production of a first-generation clonal seed orchard of Chinese Pine (Pinus tabuliformis). Silvae Genet, 2014, 63(1–2): 41-47.

[25] Zhang HX, Shen XH. Progress on reproductive system of forest seed orchards. Sci Silvae Sin, 2002, 38(2): 129-134.