Allozyme frequencies, outcrossing rate and pollen contamination in Picea abies seed orchards

Abstract

Allozymes of Swedish seed orchard clones of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) were studied. There were differences between gene frequencies of origins from different regions. The gene pool of the fertilizating pollen of two different orchards was different. Pollen contamination and outcrossing rates were estimated in two seed orchards. The fraction of paternal gametes which did not originate from any seed orchard clone was 10% and 17%, respectively. Based on simulation it was estimated that only a quarter of the gametes with origin outside the orchard would be detected. Estimation of multilocus outcrossing rates were 0.95 and 0.98.

Key words:

• Norway spruce
• provenances
• inbreeding.