Variability of Korean Pine Cone and Seedling Parameters under the Conditions of Introduction

Korean pine (Pínus koraiénsis) is a valuable forest-forming tree species that is grown not only in its natural habitat, but also in the conditions of introduction. Our study has been aimed at comparing the variability of cone and seed progeny parameters of the KO-9 tree, selected for its yield on the “Izvestkovaya” Plantation, located on the territory of the Karaul’noe Forestry of the Educational and Experimental Forestry Enterprise of the Reshetnev Siberian State University of Science and Technology (suburban area of the city of Krasnoyarsk). Korean pine seeds were harvested in the autumn of 1965 in a plantation in the Primorsky Territory (the Tudo-Vakskoe Forestry; 46° 54′ N, 134° 12′ E, 200 m above sea level; III quality class, IV age class). Planting pattern on a 5×5 m plantation. The tree formed its first cones at the age of 31. From 1999 to 2013, 80 cones were formed, with an average value of 23 pcs. in this variant. The excess has been 247.8 %. In 2020, there were 46 cones on the examined tree. The largest number of shoots has appeared from 8 cones, the parameters of which have been taken for comparison. The cones from tree no. 24 have been 16 cm long, from no. 3 – 12 cm long. The diameter of cones has varied from 7.5 cm (cone no. 21) to 9.7 cm (no. 24). A moderate correlation has been found between the length and diameter of cones (r = 0.488). The average height of 1-year-old Korean pine seedlings has been 3.8 cm, with the highest value being 4.4 cm (the progeny from cone no. 45). The level of variability in the number and length of primary needles has been high. In terms of the number of primary needles, the offspring from cone no. 44 is distinguished, in terms of the length – from no. 3; in terms of the number of cotyledons – also from cone no. 44 (13.3 pcs.), in terms of the length – from no. 24 (3.3 cm). A significant correlation has been established between the length of primary needles and cotyledons, as well as between the length of cones and the height of 1-year-old seedlings. At the age of 2, the greatest height and length of the needles have been in the progeny from cone no. 44. A significant correlation has been established between the height of 2-year-old seedlings and the length of the needles. Two-year-old seedlings, the largest number of which has been obtained from large cones, have been selected by height.