Performance of Scots Pine Seedlings from Seeds Graded by Colour

Abstract

Research Highlights: One of the ways to improve the quality of a seedlot used in the forest nursery is the grading of seed by colour. Background and Objectives: The study is intended for forest’s engineers and owners because it offers an alternative solution for forest seeds improvement before sowing. The success of forest establishment program mainly depends on the quality of Forest Reproductive Material. At this time usual practices during the seed processing is seed grading on size. This causes a lot of controversy about the possible reduction of genetic diversity through directional selection. Materials and Methods: Aiming to study the effect of seed coat colour on seedling performance, a one-year old container seedlings of Pinus sylvestris L. were planted at the post-fire site. Seedlings were produced from three fractions, previously graded in the visible wavelength range on a standard optical separator, plus control obtained without separation by colour. Results: Seedlings from different seed fractions performed differently in the first growing season after planting on the field. Seedlings from light seed fraction grow better in height, but those from dark seed fraction resulted with the highest survival rate. Light-dark seeds, which constitute the largest group in the initial sample by absolute weight, resulted with seedlings of the lowest growth rates and survival. The good results showed by seedlings from the control, for both growth rates and survival, indicate the weak effect of seed colour grading on seedlings field performance, but also the need for the more comprehensive studies in the future.