FERTILITY VARIATION AND STATUS NUMBER IN A CLONAL SEED ORCHARD OF SCOTS PINE (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Abstract

This study evaluates fertility variation among individuals based on cone and seed fertility and its effect on status number; in a clonal seed orchard of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Fertility variation and status number were estimated based on the cone and seed production observed on top, middle and bottom portions of tree crown. The different portions of crown had similar cone productivity (average number of cones= 71) with an estimated number of 5551 filled seeds per tree at a mean of 78 seeds/cone. Fertility variations estimated in terms of sibling coefficient was quite low (1.02) in all portions for both cone and seed productions. The status numbers estimated based on the total fertility was 29.4 (98% of census number).