Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fertility variation and its impact on seed crops in seed production areas and a natural stand of teak in southern India

  • Published:
Euphytica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Reproductive output and fertility variation in teak were evaluated in five study sites in Western Ghats region of southern India. In four seed production areas (SPA1-4)) and a natural population (NAT) plots with 100 trees were investigated. The 40-year-old seed production areas are located in high rainfall (>2,500 mm) sites in Kerala state and the natural stand is at a drier location in Tamil Nadu. Fruit production per tree was rather high in the natural stand (1500) and quite variable in the seed production areas. SPA 4, located far south from the other sites, had the highest fruit production (almost twice that in the other study sites), high relative population size (N r  = 0.5) and predicted low genetic drift in two consecutive years. Fecundity was very low in SPAs 2 & 3 (200 fruits per tree). Reproductive output was similar in successive years except SPA 1, where the fruit production in the first year was almost five times that in the second year. Fertility variation (computed as sibling coefficient, Ψ) was in general higher in NAT and hence the relative population size was lower than in SPAs. The variation in female fertility in the natural stand was, somewhat surprisingly, similar to that in the seed production areas, while the male fertility variation was higher. In the seed production areas the male fertility variation was lower or similar to the female fertility variation. The fertility variation, Ψ was on average around 3 and correspondingly the relative effective population size, N r  = 0.36 and the variance effective number around 60. Selection for tree diameter would improve predicted diversity of the seed crop as it was positively correlated with reproductive output and negatively correlated with fertility variation among trees.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bila AD, Lindgren D, Mullin TJ (1999) Fertility variation and its effect on diversity over generations in a teak plantation (Tectona grandis L.f). Silvae Genet 48:109–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Changtragoon S, Szmidt AE (2000) Genetic diversity of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) in Thailand revealed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. In: IUFRO conference tropical species breeding and genetic resources: forest genetics for the next millennium, Durban, South Africa, pp 82–83

  • Dabral SL, Amin PW (1975) Poor fruit formation in teak in Chanda forests of Maharashtra. Indian For 101:616–620

    Google Scholar 

  • Egenti LC (1978) Pollen and stigma viability of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.). Silvae Genet 27:29–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel CJSK, Misra DK (1998) Establishment and management of seed production areas. MyForest 34(1):673–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Goh DKS, Alloysius D, Gidiman J, Chan HH, Mallet B, Monteuuis O (2003) Selection and propagation of superior teak plant material for improved quality plantation establishment: the ICSB/Cirad-Foret’s joint project as a case study. International Conference on Quality Timber Products of Teak from Sustainable Forest Management, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, pp 281–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregorius HR (1989) Characterisation and analysis of mating system. Ekopan Verlag, Germany, p 158

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunaga R, Vasudeva R (2003) Causes for low fruit production in clonal seed orchards of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.): a special reference to India. International Conference on Quality Timber Products of Teak from Sustainable Forest Management. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, pp 223–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Harwood CE, Nikles DG, Pomeroy P, Robson KA (1996) Impact of thinning via phenotypic selection on the genetic base of planted seed production areas. In: Dieters MJ, Matheson AC, Nikles DG, Harwood CE, Walker SM (eds) Tree improvement for sustainable tropical forestry. Proc. QFRI–IUFRO conference, vol 2. Caloundra, 27 Oct.–1 Nov. 1996, pp 148–153

  • Hedegart T (1976) Breeding systems, variation and genetic improvement of teak (Tectona grandis L.f). In: Burley J, Styles BT (eds) Tropical trees: variation, breeding and conservation. Linnean society symposium series 2. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedegart T, Lauridsen EB, Keiding H (1975) Broad-leaved seed orchards—teak. In: Faulkener R (ed) Seed orchards. Forestry commission bulletin No. 54. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, pp 139–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Indira EP, Chand Basha S (1999) Effect of seeds from different sources on germination and growth in Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) nursery. Ann For 7(1):39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang KS, Lindgren D (1998) Fertility variation and its effect on the relatedness of seeds in Pinus densiflora, P. thunbergii and P. koraiensis clonal seed orchards. Silvae Genet 47:196–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang KS, Lindgren D (1999) Fertility variation among clones of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and its implications on seed orchard management. For Gen 6(3):191–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang KS, Harju AM, Lindgren D, Nikkanen T, Almkvist C, Suh GU (2001) Variation in effective number of clones in seed orchards. New For 21(1):17–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang KS, Bila AD, Harju AM, Lindgren D (2003) Estimation of fertility variation in forest tree populations. Forestry 76(3):329–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaosa-ard A (1996) Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) Domestication and breeding. UNDP/FAO, Los Banos, Phillipines, RAS/91/004

  • Katwal RPS (2005) Teak in India: status, prospects and perspectives. In: Bhat KM, Nair KKN, Bhat KV, Muralidharan EM, Sharma JK (eds) Quality timber products of teak from sustainable forest management, proceedings of the IUFRO international conference held between 2–5 December 2003 at Peechi, India. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India and ITTO, Yokohama, Japan, pp 1–18

  • Kedarnath S (1974) Genetic improvement of forest tree species in India. Indian Journal of Genetics. Proceedings of Second General Congress, New Delhi

  • Keiding H (1973) Tectona grandis L.f. lecture notes for FAO/DANIDA training course on forest tree improvement, Kenya. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Keiding H, Wellendorf H, Lauridsen EB (1986) Evaluation of an international series of teak provenance trials. Danida Forest Seed Centre, Humlebaek

    Google Scholar 

  • Kertadikara AWS, Prat D (1995) Genetic structure and mating system in teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) provenances. Silvae Genet 44(2–3):104–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer ED (1996) Estimation of effective population number in a Picea abies (Karst.) seed orchard based on flower assessment. Scand J For Res 11:111–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer ED, Wellendorf H (1998) Variation in flowering and reproductive success in a Danish Picea abies (Karst.) seed orchard. For Gen 4:181–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer ED, Lauridsen EB, Wellendorf H (1995) Second evaluation of an international series of teak provenance trials. Danida Forest Seed Centre, Humlebaek, p 117

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaer ED, Kaosa-ard A, Suangtho V (1999) Domestication of teak through tree improvement-options, possible gains and critical factors. Paper presented in teak-net meeting, January 1999, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 17 pp

  • Lindgren D (2000) Low intensity breeding. In: Lundkvist K (ed) Rapid generation turnover in the breeding population and low-intensity breeding. department of forest genetics, Swedish Agricultural University, Uppsala, Sweden, Res. Notes 55:37–48

  • Lindgren K., Ekberg I, Eriksson G (1977) External factors influencing female flowering in Picea abies. Swedish College of Forestry. Studia Forestalia Sueccica 142, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Lushington, AW. 1896. Report on working scheme of the Nilambur teak plantations. Govt. Publication. Cited in [Shanmuganathan, K. 1997. Nilambur teak—the history and a resume of early planting activities. In: Chand Basha, S. Mohanan, C, Sankar, S. (eds) Teak. Proceedings of the international teak symposium, Tiruvananthapuram, India. Kerala Forest Department and Kerala Forest Research Institute, pp 226–231]

  • Mandal AK, Sharma R, Gupta BN (1997) Establishment and management of seed production areas. TFRI Publication No.5, Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, p 14

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajan B, Varghese M, Nicodemus A, Sasidharan KR, Bennet SSR, Kannan CS (1996) Reproductive biology of teak and its implication in tree improvement. In: Dieters MJ, Matheson AC, Nikles DG, Harwood CE, Walker SM (eds) Tree improvement for sustainable tropical forestry. Proc. QFRI–IUFRO conference, vol 2. Caloundra, 27 Oct.–1 Nov. 1996, pp 244–248

  • Nicodemus A, Nagarajan B, Mandal AK, Subramanian K (2000) Genetic improvement of teak in India. In: Hardiyanto EB (ed) Proc. third regional seminar on teak-potentials and opportunities in marketing and trade of plantation teak: challenge for new millennium, Yogyakarta, pp 277–294

  • Nicodemus A, Nagarajan B, Narayanan C, Varghese M, Subramanian K (2005) Genetic variation in Indian teak (Tectona grandis L.F.) populations assayed through RAPD markers. Indian For 131(9):1121–1131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikkanen T, Ruotsalainen S (2000) Variation in flowering abundance and its impact on the genetic diversity of the seed crop in Norway spruce seed orchard. Silva Fenn 34(3):205–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Palupi ER, Owens JN (1997) Pollination, fertilization and embryogenesis of teak (Tectona grandis L.f). Int J Plant Sci 158(3):259–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palupi ER, Owens JN (1998) Reproductive phenology and reproductive success of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.). Int J Plant Sci 159:833–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suangtho V, Graudal L, Kjaer ED (1999) Genecological zonation as a tool in conservation of genetic resources of teak (Tectona grandis) in Thailand. Paper presented in international conference ‘Teak Beyond 2000’ Chiang Mai, Thailand

  • Sukumar R, Dattaraja HS, Suresh HS, Radhakrishnan J, Vasudeva R, Nirmala S, Joshi NV (1992) Long-term monitoring of vegetation in a tropical deciduous forest in Mudumalai, southern India. Curr Sci 62(9):608–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangmitcharoen S, Owens JN (1997) Floral biology, pollination, pistil receptivity and pollen tube growth of teak (Tectona grandis Linn f.). Ann Bot 79:227–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varghese M, Nicodemus A, Nagarajan B (2003) Fertility variation and dynamics of two clonal seed orchards of teak. International Conference on Quality Timber Products of Teak from Sustainable Forest Management, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, pp 211–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Varghese M, Nicodemus A, Nagarajan B, Lindgren D (2006) Impact of fertility variation on gene diversity and drift in two clonal seed orchards of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.). New For 31:497–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellendorf H, Kaosa-ard A (1988) Teak improvement strategy in Thailand. For Tree Improv 21:1–43

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Swedish Research Council and SIDA supported the study in the form of a research grant to Mohan Varghese and Dag Lindgren. International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden provided financial support to Nicodemus (Grant No. D/3384-1). Assistance and field support was provided by the research wing of the Kerala forest department. Dr. M. D. Meagher is thanked for review of an earlier draft of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, 641002, India

    M. Varghese, R. Kamalakannan & A. Nicodemus

  2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE 901 83, Umea, Sweden

    D. Lindgren

Authors
  1. M. Varghese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Kamalakannan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Nicodemus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Lindgren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Varghese.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Varghese, M., Kamalakannan, R., Nicodemus, A. et al. Fertility variation and its impact on seed crops in seed production areas and a natural stand of teak in southern India. Euphytica 160, 131–141 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-007-9591-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-007-9591-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation