Heritability of Traits in 1- Year Seedlings of Persian Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.)

This investigation was conducted to determine the genetic variation and to estimate amount of heritability of several morphological traits of four populations (seed sources) of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.). For this purpose some acorns were collected from 40 mother trees of 4 populations at elevations of 850, 1100, 1500 and 1400 m a.s.l. located in southern Zagrosian forest regions (Kohkilouye-Bouyer Ahmad, and Fars provinces). To perform the progeny test, 16 seeds were used from each mother tree and planted in a randomized completely block design with three replications in nursery of Ab-barik of Fars (1700 m a.s.l.). Progenies of the forty mother trees were randomly distributed in the replications. At the end of the first growing season, results revealed that genetic variation coefficient in populations varied from 4.5 to 15.7% for vigor, 1.9 to 11.4% for collar diameter and 9.14 to 23.7% for height of progenies. Heritability varied from 0.01 to 0.26, 0.07 to 0.50 and 0.15 t0 60 for vigor, collar diameter and height of progenies, respectively. Based on rate and range of genetic variation coefficient and heritability of the traits, seedlings height would be the most suitable trait to estimate the genetic variation and early selection of mother trees in order to seed collection and seed sowing in Ab-barik nursery. Regarding to differences in genetic variation indices, it can also be cited that deforestation is main reason in reduction of genetic variation in some of the investigated populations.