Variability of Weight Characteristics of Pinus sylvestris Seeds in the Taiga Zon

Abstract

One of the main indicators of seed quality is the weight of 1000 seeds. Thus, the research purpose was to determine the average weight of 1000 seeds of Scots pine growing in Arkhangelsk Region, as well as deferentiate the results by subzones of the taiga region. The weight data obtained from 28 forestries of Arkhangelsk region for the 20-year period (1990–2009) was analyzed and statistically processed. The data analysis has shown that in the re-gion at large the average weight of 1000 pine seeds for this period is 5.35±0.02 g (the limit is 3.05–6.99 g), while in the northern taiga subzone this indicator is 5.11±0.03 g and in the middle taiga subzone it is 5.50±0.03 g. The data of 1000 seed average weight obtained in the northern and middle taiga subzones significantly differ from each other (t = 13.33), i.e. the discrepancy is reliable and not accidental. The level of intrapopulation variability of 1000 seed weight on the S.A. Mamaev’s scale is low, therefore, the studied characteristic is stable. The lowest value of the indicator is registed in the Mezenskiy (the northern teiga subzone) forestry (4.31±0.30 g); the highest is in the Konoshskiy (the middle teiga subzone) forestry (5.95±0.17). The highest value of the average weight of 1000 pine seeds in the region for the 20-year period is 5.78±0.59 g, which was recorded in 2001. The lowest rate is 4.65±0.60 g, which was recorded in 1995. The obtained data can be used as a basis (standard) in studying the sowing qualities of Scots pine seeds in Arkhangelsk region.

For citation: Babich N.A., Drochkova A.A., Komarova A.M., Lebedeva O.P., Andronova M.M. Variability of Weight Characteristics of Pinus sylvestris Seeds in the Taiga Zone. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Forestry Journal], 2019, no. 2, pp. 141–147. DOI: 10.17238/issn0536-1036.2019.2.141