Review article
THE IMPORTANCE OF CLONAL SEED ORCHARDS IN SEED PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN CROATIA
Davorin Kajba
; Faculty of forestry University of Zagreb
Ida Katičić
; Faculty of forestry University of Zagreb
Ivan Šumanovac
; Hrvatske šume d.o.o.
Milan Žgela
; Hrvatske šume d.o.o.
Abstract
In accordance with the division of forests in Croatia into cogeographic seed regions and zones, the following productive clonal seed orchards have been established: three orchards of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), two of narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl), one of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl,), one of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) and one orchard of black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold). Phenotypical selection and heterovegetative propagation of plus trees, as well as the establishment of clonal seed orchards were
launched with the goal of controlling more regular yield periodicity and obtaining forest seed of good genetic quality in the categories Qualified and Tested. The orchards are regularly subjected to pomotechnical treatments, protection and other measures of seed site maintenance. The evaluation of genetic values of mother trees in progeny tests and selection by genotype were also started for the purpose of obtaining increased genetic gain. In three orchards
of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) genetic variability of clones was analysed by nuclear, as well as chloroplast microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity of Croatian forest tree species is simultaneously being conserved using the ex situ statical method. Clonal seed orchards are a nucleus of forest genetic resource conservation, since the relationship between the size of population and the percentage of preserved heterozygosity is thus reduced to
minimal loss of total additive genetic variability. Climate changes and new habitat conditions will pose additional challenges to seed production and forest management; in turn, this will influence their economic and social benefits, as well as biological diversity of forest ecosystems.
Keywords
Ex situ genetic resources conservation; forest reproductive material in the categories Qualified and Tested; climate change; adaptability
Hrčak ID:
93188
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2011.
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