Variation of Fertility and Phenological Synchronization in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> Seed Orchard: Implications for Seed Production

Jiaxin Xie; Xin Huang; Yingquan Liu; Peng Zhu; Yuanwei Zhu; Fengqing Li; Jiabao Yao; Lianghua Chen; Hanbo Yang

doi:10.3390/f13101571

Forests (Sep 2022)

Variation of Fertility and Phenological Synchronization in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> Seed Orchard: Implications for Seed Production

Jiaxin Xie,
Xin Huang,
Yingquan Liu,
Peng Zhu,
Yuanwei Zhu,
Fengqing Li,
Jiabao Yao,
Lianghua Chen,
Hanbo Yang

Affiliations

Jiaxin Xie: Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xin Huang: Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yingquan Liu: Hongya State-Owned Forest Farm, Meishan 620300, China
Peng Zhu: Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yuanwei Zhu: Hongya State-Owned Forest Farm, Meishan 620300, China
Fengqing Li: Experimental Center of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Xinyu 336600, China
Jiabao Yao: Experimental Center of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Xinyu 336600, China
Lianghua Chen: Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hanbo Yang: Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River & Rainy Area of West China Plantation Ecosystem Permanent Scientific Research Base, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101571
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 10
p. 1571

Abstract

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Reproductive synchronicity between parents influences the seed production and quality in seed orchards. Our objective was to determine clonal variation in fertility and phenological synchronization, as well as their effect on seed production, in a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) open-pollinated seed orchard. Significant variation of female fertility and male phenological synchronization occurred in the clones. The flowering of the male was 2 days earlier than the female. The gamete contribution of female and male were unbalanced between clones (the phenological synchronization indexes (POij) were 0.000–0.585 (as female) vs. 0.000–0.385 (as male)). In general, the average POij value of as a male was lower than as a female, but the number of male flowers were significantly higher than female, indicating that the management of female flowers should be enhanced. The average POij of self-pollination was 0.298, higher than cross-pollination (0.236), indicating that there was a larger probability to selfing in the orchard. The middle phenological type possessed higher phenological synchronization indexes than early and late phenological type. Genetic control was stronger for number of female flowers (H2 = 0.277) than for male and female initial stages and flower duration (H2 = 0.193–0.239). We found a positive correlation between POij and TSW (r = 0.756), SOsc (r = 0.612), and Cp (r = 0.337), suggesting the phenological synchronization determined the seed quality and yield. Comprehensively, this study provided fertility and phenology information for management of a Chinese fir seed orchard, as well as a reference for the establishment of advanced seed orchards of conifer trees.

Published in Forests

ISSN: 1999-4907 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Botany: Plant ecology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/forests/

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