Establishment of a Model Miniature Seed Orchard of Cryptomeria japonica Trees with a Heterozygous Male-sterility Gene

Abstract

We established a miniature seed orchard of Cryptomeria japonica trees with a heterozygous male-sterility gene (Aa). From the result of frequency of open-pollinated male-sterile seedlings (aa) in the seed orchard, it was presumed that the pollen contamination rate was about 62%. Seed yield, 100-seed weight and germination frequency did not differ between the miniature and present seed orchard. If pollen contamination could be prevented by using a greenhouse, it was thought that the miniature seed orchard with a male-sterility gene would become an effective pollinosis measure in the future.