Reconstitution of a lost forest tree population: A case study of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

A population of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) from southern Poland, named Kolonowskie 0293, exhibited a very high breeding value among 1100 European populations tested in the IUFRO 1964/1968 provenance experiment. However, the original mother stand of that population no longer exists. Owing to international cooperative efforts, a reconstituted clonal seed orchard of that population was successfully established to protect the gene pool of the Kolonowskie 0293 population.