Genetic aspects of fertility differentials in ponderosa pine

Abstract

SUMMARYThere is a strong genetic component to fertility differentials among individuals of ponderosa pine. Prolific cone-producers as a group were markedly different from low cone-producers at the three protein loci which were monitored. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, but trees with high cone production had slower growth rates and smaller diameters than trees with low cone production. To our knowledge, these results provide the first demonstration of fertility differentials associated with specific genes in a woody plant.