Pollen source affects the success of acorn production in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)

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McClory, R., Ellis, R., Lukac, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-6334 and Clark, J. (2024) Pollen source affects the success of acorn production in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Journal of Forestry Research. ISSN 1993-0607 (In Press)

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Abstract/Summary

Acorn production in oak (Quercus spp.) shows considerable inter-annual variation, known as masting. The effect of pollen sourced from different trees within or outside the stand on acorn production were investigated in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in an ancient mixed woodland over two moderate masting years. More than 85% of the flowers or developing acorns were aborted between May and August each year in all pollination treatments. Where flowers were protected with pollen bags, no acorns were produced. In contrast, hand-pollination with out-of-stand pollen provided the greatest number of acorns in both years, significantly more than within-stand pollen or natural pollination in 2022. Hand-pollination with out-of-stand or within-stand pollen provided significantly more acorns than natural pollination in 2023. In 2022, applying a mixture of half out-of-stand and half within-stand pollen produced an intermediate number of mature acorns between the out-of-stand and within-stand pollination treatments. The study provides clear evidence of maternal choice during acorn development in pedunculate oak and of the benefits of pollen supplementation. It also confirms that pedunculate oak is a fruit-maturation masting species where the abortion of pollinated flowers and immature acorns determines a mast year (rather than the number of flowers produced) at this site.

Item Type:	Article
Refereed:	Yes
Divisions:	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Crop Science
ID Code:	115923
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Quercus robur L.; acorns; masting; pedunculate oak; pollination
Publisher:	Springer

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References

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Pollen source affects the success of acorn production in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)

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