Genetic features of the offspring of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees differing in the abundance of fruiting

Abstract

Development of artificial reforestation is based on selection and genetics. Solving issues related to stability and productivity improvement of cultivated forest-forming species is impossible without taking into account the hereditary properties of the tree offspring. Genetic features of the offspring of Scots pine trees differing in the abundance of fruiting, were studied on permanent forest seed plots (PFSP) in different regions. The study objects were PFSP-1 of pine in the Ustyuzhna district of the Vologda region and PFSP-2 of pine in the Plesetsk district of the Arkhangelsk region. Permanent forest seed plots were laid out according to the method developed by the Northern Research Institute of Forestry (NRIF) and in accordance with the industry standard OST 56-35-78. The results of multiannual research have shown that the number of trees with good hereditary properties and the share of elite trees on the PFSP laid out according to the NRIF method exceeds the number of similar trees on the PFSP laid out according to the industry standard OST 56-35-78. Pine trees, which have good selection and genetic properties in terms of the offspring growth rate, are heterogeneous in the abundance of fruiting, yield of full-grain seeds and seed productivity. All this highlights the importance of a separate assessment of trees according to these features. The selection of elite trees of Scots pine can be carried out among plus trees having good inherited abilities for the abundance of fruiting and the yield of full-grain seeds. The assessment of the hereditary properties of plus trees by the offspring growth rate was carried out using the method of early diagnosis by the number of cotyledons. It is also possible to carry out selection of elite trees on the pine PFSP created by the NRIF method. If the method of early diagnosis by the number of cotyledons and the method of selection of high-yielding individuals developed by NRIF are used, it will take one plentiful growing season to select elite trees.