Effective Clone Number and Contribution to Gene Pool in a Clonal Seed Orchard of Anatolian Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arnold subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) in Kastamonu-Turkey

Abstract

Aim of study: Clonal seed orchards are really important tools in seed material production. In this study; the effective clone number and clone contribution to gene pool were examined.Area of study: The studied clonal seed orchard was established on 13 ha of area, located at Hanönü (Kastamonu) in Turkey.Material and Methods: In 2008, the existed ramets were firstly counted for determining the ramet number for the clones. After that, all cones on the ramets were counted and CGP (clone contribution to gene pool) was analysed. The effective number of clones (Nc) was determined by the variation coefficient (CV).Main results: There is considerable variation on living ramet numbers among the clones. In the establishment phase, there was also 7 times difference between clone 22 (12 ramets) and clone 2 (85 ramets). This difference both establishment phase and 17 years-old, could stem from epibiot-hipobiot incompatibility and environmental factors.Highlights: The effective number of clones, describes the gene pool of the orchard. However, incorporation of fertility variation among clones with variation in the number of ramets will give a better prediction of it.