Breeding and Seed Production of Forest Trees in Latvia

1990

S. 17-21

Unselbständiges Werk

200085752

In the mid 1950s an intensive forest genetics and tree improvement program began in Latvia. By 1960 the first seed orchards were established. By 1975 first generation seeds orchards for 14 tree speciescovered 965 ha. Scots pine orchards, the major species of Latvia, currently produces from 800 to 2,650 kg of seeds. Several species of larch and hardwoods, such as common oak and european ash, have also produced large quantities of seed, while Norway spruce orchards as old as 25 years have not. To improve the quality of the seed open pollinated progeny tests of seed orchard material have been conducted for the last 15 to 17 years. On the basis of these field tests selections for second generation orchards are made. In the near future second generation seed orchards for Scots pine, Norway spruce, European and Japanese larch, European birch, black and grey alder, Douglas-fir, and Murrey pine will be established.