INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY OF SIBERIAN SPRUCE CONES AND SEEDS IN THE MIDDLE REACHES OF THE SEVERNAYA SOSVA RIVER (KHANTY-MANSI AUTONOMOUS OKRUG)

Abstract

Individual (intrapopulation) variability of cones and seeds of Siberian spruce in the north-west of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug in the middle reaches of the Severnaya Sosva River corresponds to "typical" values for the species in a number of traits. At the same time, increased values of the weight of 100 full seeds were noted: 0.547 (0.445-0.644) g and the number of cotyledons associated with it (6.9-8.0 pcs). The coefficient of variation of the first trait is 10 %, the second - about 4 %. The average length of cones on different trees is in the range of 49-80 mm. Seed germination and especially germination readiness have an increased variability. The duration of the seed germination period is on average 11 days, the coefficient of variation is about 12 %; it is 2-4 times less than the coefficient of variation of seed germination and germination readiness. The mass of 100 seeds is associated with the length of cones and the number of cotyledons by a reliable correlation of the average level. A closer relationship (the correlation coefficient is 0.55-0.77) was found between the germination readiness and seed germination. The results of the study contain new information about the regional biological features of Siberian spruce and may be of interest to forestry.