Evaluating pollen competition in Douglas-fir using a chloroplast DNA marker

• Published in: Forest Genetics (Zvolen) Vol. 6; no. 1
• Main Authors: Stoehr, M.U, Mullen, M.C, Harrison, D.L.S, Webber, J.E. (Ministry of Forests, Glyn Road Research Station (Canada))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1999
• Subjects: AMENAGEMENT FORESTIER; CHLOROPHYLLE; CHLOROPHYLLS; CLOROFILAS; FOREST MANAGEMENT; GENETIC MARKERS; MARCADORES GENETICOS; MARQUEUR GENETIQUE; ORDENACION FORESTAL; PEUPLEMENT SEMENCIER; POLEN; POLINIZACION; POLLEN; POLLINATION; POLLINISATION; PRODUCCION; PRODUCTION; PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII; REPRODUCCION; REPRODUCTION; RESPIRACION; RESPIRATION; RODAL SEMILLERO; SEED; SEED STANDS; SEMENCE; SEMILLAS
• ISSN: 1335-048X

An experiment was conducted to test pollen competition as reflected in the reproductive success of individual pollen lots in two polymixes in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). One polymix contained six pollen lots in equal proportion by weight, the other polymix was formulated using the same six pollen lots but in inversely proportional amounts to their viability. Pollen lot viability was measured as respiration (oxygen uptake). Reproductive success of individual male parents (pollen lots) was determined following control pollinations using both polymixes separately on six female clones. The paternity analysis was carried out using a chloroplast DNA marker amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in total DNA extracts of embryos dissected from mature seed, allowing the identification of the male parent in "polycrossed" seed. Average number of filled seed per cone was not affected by the two polymixes, but the reproductive success of individual males in the polymixes varied greatly. Progeny arrays for both polymixes showed reproductive bias with reproductive success strongly correlated with pollen viability (r2=0.9)