Studies on ovulate strobili and seed production of Pinus patula in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Cone and seed production studies in Pinus patula were conducted bythe Institute for CommercialForestry Research (ICFR) in KwaZulu-Natal as part ofthe improvement programme of the species. The optimum altitude for female strobilus and seed production is approximately 1450 m in KwaZulu-Natal. At four years after establishment of the Breeding Seedling Orchards (BSOs), male and female flowering is high enough to make a commercial cone collection two years later worthwhile. The seed potential is between 120 and 140 seeds per cone and seed efficiency about 50 percent.