Studying Morphological Characteristics and Sowing Qualities of Seeds of Species of the Genus Larix Mill. in the Conditions of Introduction

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studying morphological characteristics and sowing qualities of seeds of larch species introduced to the center of European Russia (Larix sibirica Ledeb., L. sukaczewii Dyl., L. decidua Mill., L. marschlinsii Coaz, L. olgensis A. Henry, L. principis-rupprechtii Mayr, L. kaempferi (Lamb.) Carriere, L. laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch). The research was carried out in Moscow (Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and the Moscow region (Ivanteevsky Dendrological Garden, Yegoryevsky phosphorite deposit). This topic is urgent since determination of seed germination and viability is essential for introduction, whereas there are no recommendations for American larch and Prince Rupprecht’s larch in the State Standards (GOST) for determination of sowing qualities and quality class of seeds. The data on the variability of morphological characteristics of seeds of different larch species presented in the paper allow revealing their biological features under introduction conditions, which can be the basis for expanding the use of the studied plants in the center of European Russia. The individual variability of seed length and width, the relationship of these characteristics, as well as germination energy, germination, viability, and seed quality class were considered. Olga Bay larch has substandard seeds. Seeds of other larch species (Siberian, Sukachev’s, European, Margilind, Prince Rupprecht’s, Japanese and American larches) belong to the 2nd and 3rd quality classes. It allows recommending these species for sowing. Siberian larch growing on the Yegoryevsky phosphorite deposit showed a decrease in the sowing qualities of seeds (compared to the species from the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and the absence of relationship of seed length and width (compared to other objects of the research). Correlation analysis showed differences in linear and curvilinear relationships of seed length and width in Siberian and Sukachev’s larches, as well as in Margilind larch and its parental species (European and Japanese larches).