Water-Retaining Capacity of Needles of Scots Pine Clones in Forest-Steppe Conditions

The results of an analysis of intra- and interclonal variability of the water-retaining capacity (WRC) of needles of Scots pine growing in the conditions of the Middle Ob pine forest (forest steppe in the south of Western Siberia) are presented. The vegetative progeny of trees are compared in terms of WRC of needles in connection with sexual type of the tree, trunk volume, crown condition, and weather conditions of the year and months of vegetation. Significant differences between the samples of the clones’ ramets are found for most of the studied traits. According to the results of correlation analysis, paired and multiple correlations of the crown condition, needle WRC, and needle packing of shoots with the sexual type of the clone are established. The opposite distribution of male and female clones according to the studied characteristics is noted. The sample breaks up into more productive female and monoecious clones and the most drought-tolerant male clones. The highest heritability coefficients in the broad sense are obtained for the sexual type, crown condition, needle packing of shoots, and rate of moisture evaporation.