This study investigated mineral element concentrations of acorns in Quercus acutissima and Quercus serrata seed orchard, so that to estimate the variation of these species based on the chemical composition in different clones from plus trees. The acorns were collected from ten clones of each species grown in the same clonal seed orchard. The nutritional concentration of acorns was significantly different between the clones and species. The concentration of nutrient for the whole acorn followed in this general sequence: P > K > Na > Mg > Ca > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu . The mineral concentrations of acorns in clones of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata contained P (494 to 684 and 541 to 672 mg/100 g), K (114 to 569 and 140 to 251 mg/100 g), Na (57 to 121 and 49 to 85 mg/100 g), Mg (29 to 37 and 26 to 42 mg/100 g), Ca (10 to 53 and 26 to 68 mg/100 g), Mn (0.5 to 3.4 and 1.8 to 4.5 mg/100 g), Fe (0.7 to 1.1 and 0.0 to 2.2 mg/100 g), Zn (0.34 to 0.81 and 0.38 to 0.84 mg/100 g), and Cu (0.13 to 0.40 and 0.09 to 0.34 mg/100 g) respectively. Even though acorns of Q. serrata are smaller in size than Q. acutissima, acorns of Q. serrata contained significantly higher concentration of phosphorus, calcium, iron and manganese than Q. acutissima. Based on the mineral composition of the acorns, this study has shown that the clones of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata have different ability to accumulate mineral nutrients which could indicate the variation of Quercus species in terms of mineral acquisition and accumulation.

Estimates of genetic gain (in volume growth) and diversity (expressed as status number, Ns) were determined in a clonal seed orchard of Pinus koraiensis. The genetic thinning was based on clonal breeding values (represented by general combining ability) obtained from progeny tests, clonal fertility estimated by strobilus production, and clonal size variation determined by the ramet numbers per clone. Parental GCA values for volume growth were calculated, based on height and diameter at breast height measured from field trials. Clonal fertility was estimated from the assessments of strobilus production over twelve years from 1991 to 2003, and used for the calculation of status number. There are 179 clones and 5,268 ramets in 12ha area of P. koraiensis clonal seed orchard. Genetic gain and diversity estimates were determined under assumptions of 30% pollen contamination and inferior genetic value of contaminating pollen. Genetic gain increased as thinning rates were set from 10% to 60%. However, for the higher thinning intensities, the increase of genetic gain was not remarkable. Genetic thinning by means of truncation selection resulted in a greater genetic gain but a large decrease in status number. Status number was represented around 40 clones for 10% through 60% thinning intensities, but for the higher thinning intensities, it was a bit fluctuated. Based on the present results, it could be concluded that thinning rate should not be stronger than 60% to optimize genetic gain while conserving genetic diversity. Consequently 50% or 60% thinning rate might be appropriate for genetic thinning in the clonal seed orchard of P. koraiensis. The effect of pollen contamination on the genetic gain and the consequence of genetic thinning for seed production in the clonal seed orchard, and seed orchard management scheme were also discussed.

Male and female strobilus production was assessed annually over a five-year period for a clonal seed orchard of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) in Korea. Clonal fertility and fertility variation, expressed by both sibling coefficient and coefficient of variation in strobilus production among 40 orchard clones, were reported. Fertility varied among clones and among years, producing five-year averages per ramet of 464.3 and 971.1 for female and male strobili, respectively. The correlation between female and male strobilus production was positive in each of the five years studied and statistically significant with the exception of one poor flowering year. The clonal status number (Ns), a measure of genetic diversity, was calculated based on the observed clonal fertility variation, varying from 27.6 (N = 40) in the poorest flowering year (2002) to 35.8 in the best year (2005). On average (pooled), the relative status number was 95% of the census number (N). Variation of female fertility was higher than that of male fertility for the five consecutive years, and the status numbers of female and male parents reflected this variation. The pooled Ns estimation from all five years was higher than any single year, implying that genetic diversity would increase when seeds collected from different years are pooled. Sexual asymmetry calculations showed that clonal contributions would be balanced between genders