Scientific publications

The growth and survival of 72 half-sib families of Scots pine plus trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) were studied in a progeny trial at the Man’ga site. It was found that within the first decade after planting, the survival rate of the progeny declined slightly, totally by 5.6 %. After 12 growing seasons, the total survival rate of all trial variants was equal to 84.5 %, indicating good wellbeing of the progeny. The overall survival rate of the half-sib variants was equal to the survival rate of the control. It was revealed that in the course of the past 12 year period not only the survival rate but also the share of progenies which were statistically superior to the control decreased gradually, along with their height difference from the control. At the same time, there was statistically valid moderate correlation between the heights of parental clones and their half-sib progenies, which showed a positive trend (from r = 0.28 in 2014 to r = 0.34 in 2024) during the study period. In the period from 2018 to 2024, the variants underwent a substantial rearrangement in terms of growth success. To date, only 5 half-sib families (6.9 %) are still superior to the control in diameter at breast height (by 13.3 %) and in stem height (by 7.0 %). It is stated that the lack of progeny test sites in the Russian forest tree breeding system will seriously hinder plus tree breeding in the country in the near future. This is especially true for the prospects of seed orchards of supreme breeding value.