SEED PRODUCTIVITY OF MACROSTROBILI AND THE QUALITY OF SEEDS IN ABIES SIBIRICA IN DISTURBED FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN SIBERIA

Seed productivity of the macrostrobile and seed quality in drying and healthy stands of the Abies sibirica growing in the mountains of the S outhern Siberia-Khamar-Daban and Western and Eastern Sayany-were studi ed. It was established that under any growing conditions of fir, the s eed productivity of its macrostrobile is very high, but the quality of the seeds produced is very low. In high mountains, where an intensive drying of fir forests takes place, seed sterilization increases. Most of the sterile seeds are hollow, which is connected with the low poll en quality. It is concluded that in Abies sibirica growing in the moun tains of Southern Siberia, the reproductive potential of the species d rops. It is assumed that formation of sterile seeds in a fir may cause the lack of forest-forming processes in fir forests.