Genetic variation in cone and seed characteristics in a clonal seed orchard of Aleppo pine grown in Greece
1998
Matziris, D.
Cone and seed characteristics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis MILL.) were investigated in a clonal seed orchard for two successive years, 1994 and 1995. The orchard was established in January 1987 in an area of 10 ha, at Amphilochia, west Greece and includes 76 clones. The results showed that significant genetic variation exists among clones for cone wet and dry weight, number and volume of seeds extracted, weight and volume of 1000 seeds, percentage of full seeds and cone, seed and wing lengths and widths. Only cone moisture content was predominantly influenced by the environment. Cone weight at the time of harvesting (June) varied among clones from 30 g to 77.2 g (x) over bar = 48.99 g), while the dry weight varied from 27.2 g to 70.2 g ((x) over bar = 44.1 g). Cone length varied from 6.6 cm to 11.6 cm with overall mean 9.3 cm. Year to year correlation coefficients for seed characteristics were varied from moderate (0.46) to strong (0.81). These correlations indicated that the clones are quite stable from year to year, in production and in seed quality and size. Broad sense heritability (H-2) estimates were variable. Cone length and width were strongly inherited with H-2 values 0.74 and 0.73 respectively. The respective H-2 values for wet and dry cone weight were 0.79 and 0.78. The number of seeds per cone and the number of full seeds were moderately inherited characteristics with H- 2 values 0.47 and 0.36 respectively. Seed volume and weight based on a 1000 seed sampling were strongly inherited (H-2 = 0.75 and 0.73, respectively). The percentage of full seed had a H-2 value 0.41.
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