Inbreeding in black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.): self-fertility, genetic load, and performance

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Abstract
Effects of inbreeding in a natural population of black spruce were studied using progenies from self-, open-bag, open and pollen-mix pollinations. Self-pollination resulted in significant reductions in seed set and early height. The numbers of embryonic lethals were estimated comparatively by using 2 different models. Based on full seed data, the population carried an average genetic load of 5-7 embryonic lethal equivalents per zygote. The total number of lethal equivalents, acting from the time of pollination through age 6 yr, ranged from about 6-8. The role of polyembryony in maintaining heterozygosity is discussed. Significant differences among female parents with respect to seed weight, percent germination, and 2- and 6-yr heights indicated substantial variation owing to additive genetic and maternal effects. Relative self-fertility in the species, although generally high, varied widely among parents.
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