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Institut de la Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Toulouse Association de la Recherche Interdisciplinaire |
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A new type "poly-cone type" Pinus tree is phenotyped in IRIT-ARI
Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) is the most widely distributed forest species in South China, and contributes about 50% of the forest reserves in South China. It is used for both forestation, especially in karst mountainous regions, and for industrial purposes (Zhou and Yang 1984). Nowadays, P. massoniana forestation was carried out by establishment of seed-orchards as a starting point. Supply of a large amount of high quality P. massoniana seeds largely determines the quality and speed of forestation and reforestation in South China.
Seeds of P. massoniana are produced by fertilized female cones. As is true for most pine trees, the female cones of P. massoniana develop in an apical bud of a female reproductive branch in current year (1st year), then get pollinated the next year (2nd year), and the cones and seeds mature in November of the third year. The female cones develop near the top of the new branch, just below the apical bud. In general, less than 8 female cones develop, in some cases, more cones can develop but the sub-apical positioning paten does not change (Wang 1989). The male cone buds develop in the apical bud of a branch in early autumn (1st year). At mature stage (2nd year), the male cones appear at the basal part of new male reproductive branches, and usually a series of male cones develop along the stem. There are also branches that do not form cones, thus, are vegetative branches.
A new developmental paten of female cones of P. massoniana was found in 1997. This phenotype is characterized by forming a large series of usually more than 30 female cones along the stem, and positioning in the basal area of the branch (Wang et al. 2001). It is thus named “polycone type” in the present paper.
The work of Mr. Wang, carried out in IRIT-ARI, Toulouse,
cooperated with Dr. Xu, and partially in Halle University, Germany, cooperated
with Dr. Hause, discovered new type of development and reproduction processes of the PT Masson pine tree. Physiological, morphological and structural data are analyzed based on a comparison with NT Masson pines.
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E-mail: contact@irit-ari.com
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