Variability of reproductive organs of Pinus sylvestris L. in arid conditions

The paper presents studies of artificial plantations of Scots pine growing in the conditions of the sharply continental arid climate of the Southern Cis-Urals. Morphometric linear and weight parameters of reproductive organs (mature mastrobili) of Pinus sylvestris L. were established. It was revealed that the average metric parameters of the difference in width between the highest and lowest indicators were 12 mm, and the difference in cone length was 23 mm. The absence of round cones in the plantations was established, while 67.6% of cones are represented by a wide shape, 20.6% - ovoid, and 11.8% are represented by an oblong shape, which confirms the studies that southern forms predominantly have an elongated shape of cones, which is due to their phylogenesis. It is proposed, in order to ensure rational and continuous reproduction of forests that perform a range of protective functions, to develop an optimal strategy for selecting stable forms within an ecotype and cenotype based on the study of the linear and weight parameters of mature mastrobiles.