Canadian Forest Service Publications
Seed yield and quality from early cone collections of black spruce and white spruce. 1992. Mosseler, A. Seed Science and Technology 20: 473-482.
Year: 1992
Issued by: National Capital Region
Catalog ID: 10745
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Accumulated growing degree-days (GDD) were used to predict when cones of black spruce and white spruce could be collected without adversely affecting seed yields and quality. Cones were harvested at intervals of 100 GDD beginning at about 600 GDD and ending with natural seed release in white spruce at between 1200 and 1250 GD. In black spruce, the number of full seeds per cone and seed size increased significantly in seeds from black spruce cones collected after 800 GDD. No significant differences occured in number of full seeds per cone or seed size in white spruce seeds collected from cones harvested after 900 GDD, although important reductions in white spruce seedling survival occurred in seeds extracted from cones collected prior to the accumulation of 1100 GDD. Cones from black spruce can be collected as early as 900 GDD, and white spruce as early as 1100 GDD without significant losses in seed yield or quality.