Influence of the chemical mutagens on the seed germination, the growth and manifestation of decorative characteristics in the seed offspring of the representatives of the genus Pinus L.

The influence of various concentrations of chemical mutagens on the seed germination, the growth and manifestation of decorative traits in the seed offspring of mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra), Scots pine (Pinus sylvesrtis L.), and Scots pine “witch’s broom” (“WB”) is assessed. A 0.1 % aqueous solution of colchicine, as well as 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 % aqueous solutions of dimethyl sulfate (DMS) was used as mutagens. The species-specificity of the influence of chemical mutagens on the seed germination was established. Thus, the treatment of mountain pine seeds with aqueous solutions of colchicine and DMS had some stimulating influence on their germination. On the contrary, the germination of the Scots pine seeds and the seeds collected from the Scots pine “WB” decreased with increasing the DMS concentration in the solution. Among the offspring obtained using chemical mutagens, specimens were identified with changes in the growth strength towards dwarfism, the branching features of which manifested themselves in the form of apical dominance violation and shoot formation growth, with changes in the color of needles, including winter color changes of different-intensity color from green to yellow, bronze or bronze yellow. As a result of the research, 363 specimens with atypical traits were selected for further breeding work.