The effect of seed coat color grading on height of one-year-old container-grown Scots pine seedlings planted on post-fire site

Abstract

The basis for the present research is an alternative hypothesis about the existence of significant differences between morphometric parameters of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings of different color-seed races. The experiment was established by planting of one-year old Scots pine container seedlings under Kolesov's sword. Ten rows in a 90-fold repetition were planted on 24th October 2017 on the site of the left-bank forestry training Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies (coordinates of the nodal point: N 51 degrees 49'40.3' E 39 degrees 21'49.7', altitude 100.8 m asl). Seedlings were produced from the seeds, previously separated based on seed coat color and size, in the nursery by a standard rotation cycle for Scots pine container seedlings. The planted seedlings were measured for height three times during the first growing season after the field planting on a post-fire site. The results show a significant difference in one-year-old container produced Scots pine seedlings height with white seeds producing the highest seedlings after one year growth in the field. Our results indicate the potential use of seed sorting on seed coat color for improvement of both, production of forest reproductive material and reforestation success.