Are we narrowing genetic variability in seed orchards? An attempt to answer, based on the analysis of microsatellite DNA of grafts growing in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed orchard in the Forest District Susz

Abstract Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most common species in Poland’s forest stands. The mode of pine stands renovation requires that silviculture practitioners have continuous access to seed banks. Orchard-grown seeds are predicted to constitute an increasingly larger part of the average demand for pine seeds in Poland. Seed orchards, due to a limited number of maternal trees as well as the irregularity of their blooming and pollination, enhance the risk of genetic diversity reduction in planted forest stands. This is of particular importance in the context of dynamic climate change. Markers based on microsatellite DNA fragments are effective tools for monitoring genetic variability. In the present study, three different microsatellite DNA fragments were used: SPAC 12.5, SPAG 7.14 and SPAC 11.4. The main objective of this research was to study genetic variability in one of the biggest seed orchards in Poland, located in the Forest District Susz. The obtained results indicated heterozygosity loss within the orchard, proving the existence of specimen selection effects on genetic variability. Hence, it seems quite important to take account of molecular genetic variability of maternal trees in future breeding strategies.

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METODY PROWADZENIA ODNOWIEŃ NATURALNYCH SOSNY ZWYCZAJNEJ (PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.) W NADLEŚNICTWIE SKWIERZYNA

Zarządzanie ochroną przyrody w lasach ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0014.5951 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol XIII ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Maciej Hałuszczak

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Coniferous Forest ◽

Basic Method ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Clear Cutting ◽

Forest District

For many years, the Skwierzyna Forest District has been a leader among 35 units of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Szczecin in terms of the area of the obtained natural regeneration of Scots pine. In the Skwierzyna Forest District in the period 2010-2018, 522.93 ha of natural regeneration was recognized, which constitutes 43% of the total regeneration, the habitat of fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh coniferous forest as optimal for obtaining regeneration of the natural pine. In the spring date of plowing, the forest plow LPz-75 is applied, as the best for obtaining satisfactory self-seeding. The basic method of natural regeneration of pine in the Skwierzyna Forest Inspectorate is the use of a strip-like clear cutting (Ib) in the form of classic narrow sheds, with a cutting width of up to 60 m. It is noteworthy that in the woodcutting the under-eaves undergrowths, arising in forest stands close to the harvest, are left intact and later used within the naturally renovated area.

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The importance of being the first pollen in the strobili of Scots pine

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x08-138 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (12) ◽

pp. 2976-2980 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Saila Varis ◽

Arja Santanen ◽

Anne Pakkanen ◽

Pertti Pulkkinen

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Seed Orchard ◽

Pollen Grain ◽

Seed Orchards ◽

Pollination Experiments ◽

Seed Crop ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Pine Pollen

Timing of pollen arrival may affect the level of seeds fertilized by pollen from outside seed orchards, especially in seed orchards of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) established in southern Finland with stock from northern populations. We performed sequential pollination experiments with Scots pine pollen collected from seed orchard clones originating from southern and northern Finland and recipient strobili in clones originating from southern Finland. When southern pollen was introduced first, seeds were sired equally by northern and southern genotypes. When northern pollen was introduced first, northern genotypes were found in 75% of the resulting seeds. When both pollen types were introduced at the same time, the resulting seed crop was split almost equally between northern and southern genotypes. These results do not unconditionally support the idea that the first pollen grain in the pollen chamber always fertilizes the ovum; instead, they suggest a more complex way of competition between pollen grains.

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Genetic variability of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) natural regeneration compared with their maternal stands

Forest Research Papers ◽

10.2478/frp-2014-0005 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Justyna Anna Nowakowska ◽

Tadeusz Zachara ◽

Agata Konecka

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Picea Abies ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Gene Pool ◽

Inbreeding Coefficient ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Forest District

Abstract The genetic variability and biodiversity of tree populations ensure the stability and sustainability of forest ecosystems. New research tools based on molecular DNA markers enable precise characterisation of forest genetic resources, i.e. detection of different allele frequencies in mature trees and progeny populations. The paper describes the genetic structure of mature stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Oława Forest District and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) in Jawor Forest District and stands of their respective progeny. In the Scots pine stand, there was a slight increase (0.6%) in heterozygosity level and a larger increase (4.9%) in the inbreeding coefficient of progeny trees. In the Norway spruce stand, despite a small reduction (0.9%) in heterozygosity, a similar increase (4.6%) in the inbreeding coefficient of progeny was revealed. In both stands, allele richness and the partition probability of basic clustering were high. Both pine and spruce adults and progeny trees were characterised by high levels of genetic similarity (96% and 79%, respectively). Gene flow between the mature and progeny populations was high (Nm > 1) for both Scots pine and Norway spruce. Conservation of the gene pool within forest tree stands requires an increase in the proportion of natural regeneration. To estimate the extent to which genes are transmitted between adult trees and their progeny, more studies are needed, especially taking into account the influence of silviculture measures, like selective tree cutting, on the genetic variability of the younger generation. These results confirm that the gene pool was conserved when transmitted between the stands studied, as well as highlight the usefulness of such a study for silvicultural purposes

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Variability of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) called Tabórz pine (Forest District Miłomłyn) expressed in analysis of morphology of needle traits and polymorphism of microsatellite DNA

Forest Research Papers ◽

10.1515/frp-2017-0015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. 136-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paulina Lesiczka ◽

Ewa M. Pawlaczyk ◽

Bartosz Łabiszak ◽

Lech Urbaniak

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Microsatellite Dna ◽

Demographic History ◽

Wood Quality ◽

Breeding Value ◽

Needle Length ◽

Chloroplast Microsatellite ◽

Forest District

Abstract Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread forest trees in the world, ranging from southern Mediterranean mountains to eastern Siberia. 30 trees of Scots pine from the Miłomłyn Forest District were analyzed in terms of 7 nuclear and 8 chloroplast microsatellite DNA loci as well as 7 morphological needle traits. Nuclear microsatellites (Simple Sequence Repeats) have proved to be useful in studying phylogeographic and gene flow patterns in conifers and are being used to infer the demographic history of tree species. A population’s genetic diversity, in fact, represents an important criterion which could be applied in planning future forest management and breeding. Additionally, many elements of Scots pine morphology, including needle traits, are subject to environmental modification. However, the adaptability of those traits remains, to some extent, under genetic control. The trees we investigated here are called Tabórz pine located in the northeast of Poland. This population is described as one of the best in Poland and even in Europe regarding bio mass production, ductility and wood quality. The aim of the study was to determine variation and genetic structure within this population. An analysis of phenotypic differentiation showed that the traits which differed the most between individuals were needle length, the number of serrations per 2 mm of needle length along the right edge and the number of stomatal rows on the convex side of the needles. In Tabórz pine, we detected 30 different genotypes with 87 alleles as well as 28 haplotypes with 30 alleles. We also revealed a slight excess of homozygotes, but the population is still in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The Scots pine population from Tabórz furthermore showed a higher level of genetic diversity compared to stands from other Polish and European regions. This diversity may be the main factor impacting on the population’s wood quality and its breeding value.

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