Accelerated Growth and Initial Flowering of S₂ Pinus Banksiana Selected for Precocious Flowering

Abstract

An accelerated growth protocol was applied in a greenhouse to hasten flowering in 13 S₂ lines of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) selected for precocious flowering. Seeds were sown on October 1. After the artificial "summer, fall, winter, and spring," seedlings were placed outdoors between June 20 and November 1. Ovulate strobili were counted between November 25 and December 8; about 21 percent of all seedlings flowered at 14 months of age. The percentage of trees flowering within a family line ranged from 5% to 70%. The average number of strobili per tree was 0.4, increasing to 1.7 when only the flowering trees were considered. Seedling heights were measured at the end of the simulated dormancy period in the greenhouse and on November 1 when they were brought inside. Correlation coefficients for the relationship of precocious flowering and height were significant for all trees pooled. Most within-family correlation coefficients for precocious flowering and height were positive and significant.

Citation

Kang, Hyun; Cecich, Robert A. 1999. Accelerated Growth and Initial Flowering of S₂ Pinus Banksiana Selected for Precocious Flowering. In: Bowen, Mary; Stine, Michael, comps. Proceedings, 25th Biennial Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference; 1999 July 11-14; New Orleans, LA: Southern Forest Tree improvement Committee: 102-110