| Abstract: | We evaluated seed production in a first-generation orchard of Chinese pine(Pinus tabuliformis) during the crucial transition period from first generation to advanced generations.Clones varied significantly in all traits related to seed production.Repeatability of these traits ranged from 0 to 0.96.Seed production per ramet(SPPR),seed producing index(SPI),the number of relative female strobili(RFS),the number of scales,and the number of ineffective scales had comparatively high repeatability at 0.86,0.87,0.89,0.96,and 0.91,respectively.Correlation analysis showed that SPPR was greatly influenced by RFS and by the number of full seeds per cone.Finally,we showed that SPI was the best predictor of the seed-producing ability of clones.Our findings will assist seed orchard managers in effectively predicting and improving seed production of Chinese pine seed orchards. |
