Pollination dynamics in a Platycladus orientalis seed orchard as revealed by partial pedigree reconstruction

Pollination dynamics was studied in a first-generation Platycladus orientalis seed orchard with pedigree reconstruction using 8 nuclear and 4 chloroplast SSRs. The pedigree reconstruction assigned 371 out of studied 448 seeds to one of the orchardsâ 192 candidate male parents and showed high level of outcrossing and pollen contamination in the orchardâ s seed crop. While the orchardâ s seed population showed greater allelic richness compared to the parental population, few alleles present in the parental population were missing in the seed crop. Additionally, we detected no significant correlation between male reproductive energy (pollen yield) and male reproductive success; however, uneven parental contribution was also observed. Pollen management practices were recommended to ensure the maintenance of genetic diversity in the seed crops and increase in genetic gain.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author