Publication Date:
1996-06-01
Description:
The reproductive success of orchard and nonorchard pollens was studied in seeds from megastrobili exposed during different stages of pollen shedding in a Pinussylvestris L. seed orchard. Wind pollination was controlled experimentally by isolating and then temporarily exposing the megastrobili to four different stages of pollen shedding by orchard trees. The amount of pollen contamination in the seed crop was determined using isozyme markers and an undetected gamete model. The estimated level of pollen contamination was 48% when megastrobili were exposed during the entire pollination season. Contamination was highest (60%) when megastrobili were exposed before actual pollen shedding by orchard trees, and lowest (27%) in seeds from megastrobili exposed during maximum pollen shedding by orchard trees. Reproductive success was measured several ways: as the total number of seeds produced in each treatment, as the ratio or proportion of mature cones per megastrobilus, and as the number of seeds produced per cone or megastrobilus. In 1991, reproductive success was highest before maximum pollen shedding by seed orchard trees. Pollen shedding by orchard trees occurred a few days after most megastrobili became receptive.
Print ISSN:
0045-5067
Electronic ISSN:
1208-6037
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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