Genetic variation in reproductive traits in a clonal seed orchard of Prunus avium in northern Spain

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the reproductive phenology of Prunus avium in a seed orchard located in northwestern Spain. The study was carried out with 103 clones from 7 provenance regions in northern Spain. The most advanced flowering stage on different dates and the number of flowers and cherries were monitored over two consecutive years. Significant differences among clones were found for all of the studied traits, with high broad-sense heritability estimates for all, except duration of flowering and synchronization index, both of which showed moderate heritability. In general, there was good overall reproductive synchronization in the seed orchard, although two groups of clones were differentiated. Clones from two out of the seven populations studied flowered later and were less well synchronized. The clonal differentiation was correlated with geoclimatic variables, suggesting that clones from lower altitudes and higher temperatures tend to an earlier flowering.