Medial-vegetative proliferation of European larch Larix decidua Mill. cones

Abstract

Identification and analysis of proliferated cones in conifers has both theoretical and practical significance, particularly in systematic and taxonomic investigations, but also in the study of population and individual variability within a species. Comparative morphological-anatomical studies of reproductive organs can contribute to solving many issues in phylogeny and can iden- tify abnormal phenomena in cone formation. In light of the value of such information, this paper presents the results of monitoring European larch Larix decidua Mill. cone proliferation in Serbia over a 24-year period, with the aim of studying cone apical meristem activity, which usually is limited. Cone proliferation was confirmed by comparative morphological and genetic-physio- logical analyses of cones from European larch growing in the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry in Belgrade, at ages of 41, 51, and 65 years old.