Preliminary assessment of ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri Teijsm. & Binnend.) stand on the KPPN Bulian of the District VIII of PT. Wirakarya Sakti, Jambi as seed source candidate

Ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri) is one of Indonesia’s most economically valuable timber tree species and was listed as Vulnerable in 1998 by the IUCN. To support conservation activities and establish E. zwageri’s plantation, good quality planting stocks should be collected from specific seed sources. Currently, there is only one ironwood seed source in Sumatra that has been registered. This study aimed to assess the potential for an ironwood stand on the KPPN Bulian of the District VIII of PT. Wirakarya Sakti is to be proposed as a seed source. The assessment was conducted on July 2020 by a 100% inventory of ironwood trees in the area of 43 ha. Every individual tree and copy of ironwood was measured for its stem diameter and tree height and observed for its health, flowers, fruits, and seedlings in the ground. In total, 1,029 individual trees, copies and seedlings were recorded. Among them, 116 trees were found to have young fruits and seedlings emergence in the forest floor. Generally, the ironwood stand is sound and meets the criteria to be registered as an identified seed stand of ironwood.

The Growth of Calophyllum Inophyllum Scions Taken from Provenance Seed Stand in Wonogiri, Central Java

Calophyllum inophyllum L. is one of species that has been identified as a source of oil suitable for biofuel, cosmetics and medicine. Until now, the propagation of this species uses generative methods. In the forest tree breeding program, after a plus tree is selected a vegetative propagation technique must be developed to maintain the genetic potential of the parent tree. This study was conducted to determine the growth response of selected clones in Provenance Seed Stand of C. inophyllum in Wonogiri, Central Java propagated using the grafting method. The research used was arranged in Randomized Completely Design with 22 clones as the parent tree treatments. Each treatment consisted of 5 grafted seedlings and repeated in 4 times. The results showed that the survival percentage of grafted seedlings ranges from 15 – 100 % at 2 months of age, which showed a fairly high variation among the selected clones. Increasing the success of the grafting technique on the C. inophyllum clones still needs to be done so that it can provide vegetative material for clone testing and operational planting. It is important to be conducted in order to produce C. inophyllum stands with high fruit productivity and oil yield.

Fertility variation, seed collection and gene diversity in natural stands of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani)

Background Seed stand is one of the important seed sources that is essential for global seed production programs. The primary objective of seed stands is to produce seeds as fast as possible. Characteristics of seed stand seeds depend mainly on stand quality, fertility variation and mating system. Individual fertility is an ability to produce progeny to next generation. Prediction of fertility variation is useful for seed production, genetic resources management and gene conservation. In this study, we report how to estimate fertility variation and gene diversity, and discuss its effect on the management of natural stands of Taurus cedar. Results Fertility variation and gene diversity were estimated based on the differences of strobilus production in female and male parents from three seed stands of Taurus cedar. A total of 50 trees were randomly chosen from each seed stand, and the female and male strobili were counted for three consecutive years. The coefficients of variation for female and male strobilus production were subjected to estimation female and male fertility variation. The total fertility variation (Ψ) was then estimated from the female and male fertility variation. The effective number of parents (Np) was calculated based on the Ψ. The mean of female strobili ranged from 31 to 150, and that of male strobili ranged between 77 and 828. The Ψ in a good crop year was smaller than in a poor year and the Np varied from 34.7 to 44.2. The Ψ was improved and the Np was increased when strobilus productions were pooled across three years or populations. The equal cone harvest could mitigate the fertility variation among individuals but caused loss of seed production. Conclusions The effective number of parents could estimate gene diversity of seeds from natural stands, which was based on the function of correlated fertility variation between female and male parents. Mixing seeds from different years could improve the fertility variation among individuals and increase the gene diversity of seeds. However, a balancing between the effective number of parents and the number of mixed years or populations should be carefully considered for maintaining the gene diversity.

A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATES TO SYNTHETIC VARIETY-POPULATIONS IN THE SCOTS PINE VARIETY TESTS IN GUTYANSKE FOREST ENTERPRISE

The article presents the results of the examination of Scots pine progenies from nine clonal seed orchards (CSO) and one permanent forest seed stand (PFSS), which were potential synthetic variety-populations, as well as of their regional control variants (Kharkiv, Kyiv, Rivne and Volyn regions). All the progenies were tested in the Gutyanske Forest Enterprise in Kharkiv region. Mensuration and breeding indicators and state and level of resin productivity were estimated. At the age of 20, three out of ten potential variety-populations exceeded local control by the heights and diameters. The variants from the eastern and central regions were better than western ones by the breeding structure and state category. Only one candidate to the variety-population exceeded local control by the level of resin productivity, the rest ones were somewhat lower. In seven variants, the proportion of trees with higher resistance to phytopathology, in particular, to the annosum root rot, were higher (Pst = 45…50 %) than in the control (Pst = 40 %). The correlation between the resin productivity and the growth characteristics were weak (for diameter, r = 0,32 ± 0,055; for height, r = 0,17 ± 0,057). The results of integrated point assessment of candidates to variety-populations indicated the feasibility of using seeds from CSO and PFSS to create Scots pine stands to be potentially resistant to phytopathogenic diseases.

Analysis of intra-population variability of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.) in seed stand near Backa Palanka using RAPD markers

The analysis of Bald cypress genetic variability at the level of test trees was performed using RAPD (Random Amlified Polymorphic DNA) markers. RAPD analysis was performed on 20 test trees with 13 primers. A total of ten primers gave a clear picture while three primers amplified weakly. 60 is a total number of detected bands obtained by RAPD analysis with 10 selected primers, and the average number of bands is 6. Based on presence/absence of RAPD fragments among all 20 Bald cypress test trees were calculated similarity coefficients by Dice and they range from 0.73 to 1. Based on similarity coefficients was performed the cluster analysis and results were presented as a dendrogram. All 20 test trees were grouped into two sub-clusters. Test trees 1, 4 and 11 were grouped in the first sub-cluster while other test trees were grouped in the second sub-cluster. By analysis of relations within every sub-cluster and sub-sub-cluster the existence of genetic distances between observed test trees can be noticed. The greatest similarity is between test trees 2, 12, 15 and 18. The results of genetic similarity and distance between observed test trees indicate the overwhelming presence of genetic diversity.

Regulation of the abundance of clover seed weevils, Apion spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a seed stand of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

The clover seed weevils, <em>Apion trifolii</em> and <em>Protapion apricans</em>, members of the genus Apion, are responsible for causing serious economic damage in clover. In 2010-2012, the effectiveness of some insecticides against clover seed weevils in the genus <em>Apion</em> were tested in red clover stands. The efficacy of different products was evaluated on the basis of analyses of specimens trapped in the herb layer of red clover using a sweep net and red clover heads sampled in individual plots. Over the course of these trials, the applications of the products tested resulted in a marked reduction in their numbers (particularly of adults and, to a lesser extent, also of larvae). The highest efficacy was observed with Biscaya 240 (A.I. thiacloprid) and Mospilan 20 SP (A.I. acetamiprid). Results obtained in this study corroborated the low efficacy of the insecticide Karate Zeon Technology 5 CS against seed weevils of the genus <em>Apion</em>.

Analysis of intrapopulation variability of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.) in a seed stand near Backa Palanka using morphometric markers

In this paper are presented the results of an analysis of intrapopulation variability using morphometric markers of 20 Bald cypress test trees originating from seed stand S 01.10.01.01 near Backa Palanka. The morphometric characters of cones (length, width and number of grains) and seedlings (root collar diameter and height of seedling) that were produced by this seed were analyzed. A mutual biological similarity or distance of mother trees depending on the analyzed characters was tested. The determined values of the dimensions of cones and seedlings indicate the good genetic and adaptive potential of this species, which can be a starting point for the mass production of Bald cypress seed and planting materials in Serbia.

Variability in cone morphometric characters among test trees of Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.) in seed stand near Bačka palanka

Bald cypress is monoecious, long-lived, deciduous conifer. It belongs to the family Taxodiaceae and genus Taxodium. In Serbia, there is only Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. that mostly can be found in the green areas of major cities. The possibility of wider application of Bald cypress as a forest species should be based on an assessment of its genetic and adaptive potential, quantity and quality of yield, primarily at the level of the existing Bald cypress seed stand. In this paper are presented research results of the variability in cone morphometric characters among 20 test trees. The determined values of cone dimensions indicate good genetic and adaptive potential of this species that can be considered as starting point for the mass production of quality seed and planting material in Serbia.