Seed stand is a natural forest population that is one of the essential seed sources for global seed supply. Individual fertility is an ability to produce progeny to next generation. Prediction of fertility variation is useful for seed quality, ecosystem management and gene conservation. Fertility variation and gene diversity in seed stands of Taurus cedar were estimated based on the difference in strobilus production between female and male parents. A total of 50 trees were randomly chosen from each stand, and female and male strobili were counted for three consecutive years. The mean of female strobili ranged from 31 to 150, and that of male ranged between 77 and 828. The variation in strobilus production was subjected to estimation of female and male fertility variation. The total fertility variation ( $$\Psi$$ ) was estimated from the female and male fertility variation. The $$\Psi$$ in a good crop year was smaller than in a poor year. The effective number of parents (Np) was calculated based on the $$\Psi$$ , which varied from 34.7 to 44.2. When strobilus productions were pooled across 3 years or populations, the Np increased. Equal cone harvest could mitigate the fertility variation among individuals but caused loss of seed production. Mixing seeds from different years could also decrease the fertility variation and increase the gene diversity of seeds. However, a balance between the size of Np and the number of pooling years should be carefully considered for maintaining the gene diversity in the natural stands.

中文翻译：

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Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani) 天然林分的生育力变异、种子收集和基因多样性

种子林是天然林种群，是全球种子供应的重要种子来源之一。个体生育能力是为下一代生产后代的能力。生育力变异的预测对于种子质量、生态系统管理和基因保护非常有用。根据雌性和雄性亲本之间的 strobilus 产量差异估计金牛雪松种子林的生育力变异和基因多样性。每个林分随机抽取50棵树木，连续3年统计雌雄树。雌性 strobili 的平均值在 31 到 150 之间，雄性的平均值在 77 到 828 之间。 strobilus 产量的变化受雌性和雄性生育力变化的估计。总生育率变化 ( $$\Psi$$ ) 是根据女性和男性生育率变化估算的。收成好的年份的 $$\Psi$$ 小于收成不佳的年份。有效父母数 (Np) 是根据 $$\Psi$$ 计算的，从 34.7 到 44.2 不等。当 strobilus 生产在 3 年或种群中汇集时，Np 增加。等量的锥体收获可以减轻个体之间的生育差异，但会导致种子产量的损失。不同年份的种子混合还可以减少育性变异并增加种子的基因多样性。然而，应仔细考虑 Np 大小和汇集年数之间的平衡，以保持自然林分中的基因多样性。有效父母数 (Np) 是根据 $$\Psi$$ 计算的，从 34.7 到 44.2 不等。当 strobilus 生产在 3 年或种群中汇集时，Np 增加。等量的锥体收获可以减轻个体之间的生育差异，但会导致种子产量的损失。不同年份的种子混合还可以减少育性变异并增加种子的基因多样性。然而，应仔细考虑 Np 大小和汇集年数之间的平衡，以保持自然林分中的基因多样性。有效父母数 (Np) 是根据 $$\Psi$$ 计算的，从 34.7 到 44.2 不等。当 strobilus 生产在 3 年或种群中汇集时，Np 增加。等锥收获可以减轻个体之间的生育力差异，但会导致种子产量的损失。不同年份的种子混合还可以减少育性变异并增加种子的基因多样性。然而，应仔细考虑 Np 大小和汇集年数之间的平衡，以保持自然林分中的基因多样性。等量的锥体收获可以减轻个体之间的生育差异，但会导致种子产量的损失。不同年份的种子混合还可以减少育性变异并增加种子的基因多样性。然而，应仔细考虑 Np 大小和汇集年数之间的平衡，以保持自然林分中的基因多样性。等量的锥体收获可以减轻个体之间的生育差异，但会导致种子产量的损失。不同年份的种子混合还可以减少育性变异并增加种子的基因多样性。然而，应仔细考虑 Np 大小和汇集年数之间的平衡，以保持自然林分中的基因多样性。