Seed morphological traits as a tool to quantify variation maintained in ex situ collections: a case study in Pinus torreyana.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the within- and among-population distribution of trait variation within seed collections may provide a means to approximate standing genetic variation and inform plant conservation. This study aimed to estimate population- and family-level seed trait variability for existing seed collections of Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana), and to use these data to guide sampling of future collections. We quantified variation in 14 seed morphological traits and seedling emergence within and among Torrey pine populations. Using a simulation-based approach, we used estimates of within-population variance to assess the number of maternal families required to capture 95 % of trait variation within each existing seed collection. Substantial structure was observed both within and among Torr

SUBMITTER: Di Santo LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8477307 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature