Genetic architecture of a Persian oak plant population based on progenies seedling characteristics

Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) with a vast habitat in Zagros mountain range, has a specific importance in Iran, based on economic, sociologic and environmental aspects. A complex of human and non-human factors caused to show genetic erosion in several plant populations of the species. Therefore, evaluation of genetic variation and architecture of plant population could be informative for forest managers and breeders. The research was performed to evaluate genetic potentials of a plant population of the species located in Lorestan provinces, west of Iran. Seed was collected randomly on twelve single plants to be used in assessment of the parent plants by a progeny test experiment. The seeds were evaluated as twelve half-sib and Full-sib families planted in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Biometric parameters were converted to genetic parameters using nested mating design model, by which genetic variance components and heritability values were estimated. The studied families showed a range of 6 to 92 percent establishment. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference between the parents based on all of the recorded traits. Majority of the variance components was observed between the studied families, for which heritability of the characters was also strong, varying between 57% on collar diameter, to 95% on leaf length. Therefore, the studied oak plant population has the capability to be used for selecting suitable materials for seed orchard establishment as well as performing other breeding projects.