Effects of pollen tube number and archegonium number on reproduction in Douglas-fir: significance for seed orchard management
1992
Crook, R.W. | Friedman, W.E.
Analyses of the relationships between pollen tube number and fertilization number and between archegonium number and fertilization number in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) indicate strong trends toward higher levels of simple polyembryony as both pollen tube number and archegonial number increase on a per-seed basis. These relationships have a significant bearing on the management of conifer seed orchards. Simple polyembryony has been proposed to be an effective means of increasing competition on a per-seed basis in conifers and, potentially, the overall fitness of progeny. In conifers, supplemental mass pollination has the direct effect of increasing the number of pollen tubes per ovule. Clonal variation in average number of archegonia per ovule is also likely to exist among conifers. We propose that when used together, supplemental mass pollination and selection of clones with high archegonial averages may enhance the fitness of seed orchard progeny.
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