O. Johnsen et al., SEED CONE ABORTION AND FULL SEED PRODUCTION IN AN INDOOR SEED ORCHARDWITH POTTED GRAFTS OF PICEA-ABIES, Scandinavian journal of forest research, 9(4), 1994, pp. 329-332
Abortion of seed cones and production of full seeds have been recorded
in an indoor-potted Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seed orch
ard at Biri nursery in Norway. Seed cone buds aborted their normal dev
elopment at much higher frequencies (22-45%) inside isolation bags tha
n in an open-air (4-12%) greenhouse environment. The grafts had been i
nduced to flower the year prior to seed cone development. Treatment wi
th gibberellin A(4/7) in conjunction with heat reduced the proportion
of aborted, isolated flowers (13%) compared to treatment with heat alo
ne (22%) in a clonally balanced material. The production of full seeds
per cone increased from 3 in 1987 to 50 in 1991. The full seed produc
tion is discussed in relation to methods and timing of pollen forcing.
It is anticipated that 1 kg of seeds could be produced annually in a
1250 m(2) greenhouse.