Levels of diversity and inbreeding in a clonal seed orchard for high-mountain ecotype of Scots Pine

Seed orchards are an important source of high-quality seeds for afforestation. Genetic composition of seed orchard crop was studied in a clonal seed orchard situated in Borovets, Rila Mts, which was designed for producing seed for high-mountain afforestations. Diversity in the seed orchard was comparable with the results of other similar studies. Both multilocus and single-locus outcrossing rates were relatively low – 0.867 and 0.782, respectively. Such low levels of outcrossing are not unprecedented in conifers, but the results indicate some degree of selfing in the seed orchard. The possible causes and factors influencing genetic aspects of the reproductive process in the seed orchard are discussed.