Integrating fecundity variation and genetic relatedness in estimating the gene diversity of seed crops: <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> seed orchard as an example

Abstract

The genetic gain and gene diversity of seed crops from a 1.5-generation clonal seed orchard of Pinus koraiensis Siebold &amp; Zucc. were estimated under consideration of parental genetic values and fecundity variation. Fecundity variation among clones was estimated for 5 consecutive years (2010–2014) as the sibling coefficient, which was drawn from clonal contribution to the total production of seed conelet. To monitor gene diversity, status number was estimated by the integration of fecundity variation and group coancestry. Group coancestry was calculated as the average of genetic relatedness (coancestry) among orchard clones. The averages of conelet production were high in 2010 and 2011, moderate in 2013 and 2014, and poor in 2012 with a grand mean of 13.7. Correlation analysis showed that good conelet producers consistently gave good production. Cumulative distribution of clonal conelet production was presented as a function of the total conelet yield, and this distribution indicated deviation from the expected clonal equal production. Group coancesrtry was 0.0096, indicating minimal loss of gene diversity. Status number and genetic gain were higher in good than in poor conelet production years, highlighting the importance of fecundity variation in determining the genetic gain and gene diversity of seed orchard crops.