To grow or to seed: ecotypic variation in reproductive allocation and cone production by young female Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis, Pinaceae) (original) (raw)
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Annals of botany, 2011
Sex allocation has been studied mainly in small herbaceous plants but much less in monoecious wind-pollinated trees. The aim of this study was to explore changes in gender segregation and sex allocation by Pinus halepensis, a Mediterranean lowland pine tree, within tree crowns and between trees differing in their size or crown shape. The production of new male and female cones and sex allocation of biomass, nitrogen and phosphorus were studied. The relationship between branch location, its reproductive status and proxies of branch vigour was also studied. Small trees produced only female cones, but, as trees grew, they produced both male and female cones. Female cones were produced mainly in the upper part of the crown, and male cones in its middle and lower parts. Lateral branch density was correlated with the number of male but not female cones; lateral branches were more dense in large than in small trees and even denser in hemispherical trees. Apical branches grew faster, were t...
Reproductive phenology of Pinus pinea
2017
Stone pine (Pinus pinea) is one important species for pine nut production worldwide, assuming an extreme economic, cultural and environmental importance in the Mediterranean Basin due to pine nut production. In Portugal, 70% of the national production comes from Alentejo region, where edafoclimatic conditions are propitious to high productivity and quality, rendering high economy revenue. Stone pine has a peculiar reproductive cycle, with approximately 3 years from bud differentiation to maturation. Recent reports point to a decrease in cone production and pine nut productivity, which could be associated with damages in specific phases of stone pine reproductive phenology. During two consecutive years, reproductive phenology was monitored in three plots, one located in Alcácer do Sal and two in Coruche. Observations and images were acquired over two growing periods, from beginning of March 2012 to end of August 2013. The periodicity of the observations ranged between one and three w...
Global Journal Of Botanical Science, 2016
About 50 years ago (in the 1960’s), 30 Tunisian Aleppo pine provenances were planted in Korbus arboretum (NE of Tunisia). For this study, only twelve provenances were selected and assessed. The selected provenances were evaluated for seed production, tree height and diameter. Results showed high inter-provenance variability for all the traits considered. However, within this site, the produced overall Aleppo pine cones per tree was less than the half in comparison to the interior forest of the country. Similarly, the average produced cone was lighter with less seeds content compared to non maritime coastal forests. The developed mature cones per tree in terms of number and weight were the major factors influencing seed yield within the site.