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Variation in Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae) Reproductive Output and Its Effect on Seed Orchard Crops’ Genetic Diversity

Authors :
Hui-Jin Zhang
Xiao-Lei Yang
Shi-Wei Zhao
Si-Qian Jiao
Yousry A. El-Kassaby
Yuan-Jiao Zhu
Shi-Ping Cheng
Ji-Jun Zhu
Zhi-Chao Li
Yue Li
Ilga Porth
Yu-Tao Bao
Shan-Shan Zhou
Meiyu Li
Tian-Le Shi
Jian-Feng Mao
Source :
Forests, Volume 12, Issue 11, Forests, Vol 12, Iss 1429, p 1429 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021.

Abstract

The genetic efficiency of seed orchards is crucial for determining seed crops’ genetic gain and diversity. Platycladus orientalis is a conifer tree of important ecological value in China. Here, we assessed the reproductive output (fertility) variation for 166 clones in a first-generation P. orientalis seed orchard over five years and across three years for each gender (female: 2017, 2018, and 2020 and male: 2017, 2019, and 2021). Fertility variation and genetic diversity parameters were estimated for each gender-year combination. The reproductive output (fertility) variation differed among years, provinces, clones nested within provinces, and ramets within clones. We observed asymmetry in the gender reproductive output and parental imbalance and determined their profound effects on the genetic diversity of these seed crops. The maleness index revealed the existence of female-biased or male-biased clones. When seeds from multiple individuals and years were blended, we found an increase in the effective number of parents (Np) and in genetic diversity (GD), and a reduced fertility variation (Ψ) in the seed orchard. When we set the effective number of parents (Np) to 30, the GD of the seed orchard could be maintained at more than 95%. Thus, achieving genetic diversity balance in seed production can be accomplished through monitoring the fertility variation of orchards and through the utilization of the thereby generated information for the advanced generation of seed orchards.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994907
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Forests
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....886227ebede5a78e2420e370d373d7c5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/f12111429