@article{10272/21079,
year = {2022},
month = {6},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10272/21079},
abstract = {We assess how the age of Pinus sylvestris mother trees influences seed size, seed viability,
germination capacity and later offspring seedling survival under greenhouse conditions. Thirty trees
ranging from 30 to 219 years old were selected in the north facing slopes in the Sierra de Guadarrama,
where we could find the oldest Pinus sylvestris trees in central Spain. Forty cones per tree were
harvested to study cone and seed characteristics (size and weight), seed viability and germination
capacity related to the mother tree age. In addition, 25 germinated seeds per tree were grown in a
greenhouse to assess offspring seedling survival during a death trial, where watering was stopped.
Significant differences between trees in cone and seed morphological traits were observed. The age
of the mother tree had a significant effect on cone size, seed size, and seed weight, but there was
no effect on seed germination capacity and seed viability. Seedling survival was mainly affected
by the decrease in water availability. However, a significant effect of the tree age was found once
soil moisture had reached 0%. Our results show the ability of overmature Pinus sylvestris trees to
maintain a relatively high reproductive capacity that assures its persistence},
organization = {This research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, grant number AGL2017-
83828-C2. We thank the Forest Service at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park for providing
the sampling permits required for the area and for their interest in the project and Giorgia Fiorino for
helping in the seed viability and seed germination tests},
publisher = {MDPI},
title = {Does the Age of Pinus sylvestris Mother Trees Influence Reproductive Capacity and Offspring Seedling Survival?},
doi = {10.3390/f13060937},
author = {Pardos, Marta and Vázquez Piqué, Javier and Benito, Luis and Madrigal, Guillermo and Alejano Monge, Reyes and Fernández Martínez, Manuel and Calama, Rafael},
}