Genetic Variation in Taşköprü-Tekçam Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Clonal Seed Orchard According to Some Needles Characters

Abstract

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most common and important forest tree species in Turkey due to usefulness of its wood to many commercial uses. This species is classified as one of the economically important tree species for Turkish Forestry in the “National Tree Breeding and Seed Production Program”. Presently, the need of scots pine seeds is approximately 715 kg per year. Demand for scots pine seeds and seedlings in Turkey is obtained mainly by domestic production, but currently only 9.2% of the Turkish seed demand in scots pine is supplied from current 111 ha of seed orchards. High and genetically improved seed yield from the seed orchard is an integral part for the success of a tree breeding program. Genetic variation between the clones must be identified in the seed orchards to maintain high seed production. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic variation in Kastamonu Taşköprü-Tekçam Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) clonal seed orchard using eight morphological and anatomical needles characters. For this purpose; 3 sample trees from 30 clones and 10 needles from each samples tree were selected. Totally 900 sample needle were used for this study. Nine morphological and anatomical traits (needle length, needle width, needle thickness, sheath thickness, number of rows of stomata in the dorsal and ventral faces, number of stomata per cm of needle length in the dorsal and ventral faces) were determinate in 900 needle. The results showed that; there were significant differences between clones according to eight morphological and anatomical needles characters.