Understanding the within- and among-population distribution of trait variation within seed collections may provide a means to approximate standing genetic variation and inform plant conservation. This study aimed to estimate population- and family-level seed trait variability for existing seed collections of Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana), and to use these data to guide sampling of future collections. We quantified variation in 14 seed morphological traits and seedling emergence within and among Torrey pine populations. Using a simulation-based approach, we used estimates of within-population variance to assess the number of maternal families required to capture 95 % of trait variation within each existing seed collection. Substantial structure was observed both within and among Torrey pine populations, with island and mainland seeds varying in seed size and seed coat thickness. Despite morphological differences, seedling emergence was similar across populations. Simulations revealed that 83 % and 71 % of all maternal families within island and mainland seed collections respectively needed to be resampled to capture 95 % of seed trait variation within existing collections. From a conservation perspective, our results indicate that to optimize genetic diversity captured in Torrey pine seed collections, maximizing the number of maternal families sampled within each population will be necessary.

中文翻译：

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种子形态特征作为量化异地收集中保持的变异的工具：以香樟为例

了解种子集合内性状变异的种群内和种群间分布可能提供一种近似常设遗传变异和告知植物保护的方法。本研究旨在估计现有的 Torrey pine (Pinus torrreyana) 种子收集的种群和家庭水平的种子性状变异性，并使用这些数据来指导未来收集的抽样。我们量化了 14 种种子形态性状的变异以及多利松种群内部和之间的幼苗出现。使用基于模拟的方法，我们使用种群内方差的估计值来评估在每个现有种子集合中捕获 95% 的性状变异所需的母系家庭数量。在栀子松种群内部和种群之间观察到大量结构，岛屿和大陆种子的种子大小和种皮厚度不同。尽管形态存在差异，但种群间的幼苗出现相似。模拟显示，岛屿和大陆种子收集中分别有 83% 和 71% 的所有母系家庭需要重新采样，以捕获现有收集中 95% 的种子性状变异。从保护的角度来看，我们的结果表明，为了优化多利松种子收集中捕获的遗传多样性，最大化每个种群中采样的母体家庭数量是必要的。模拟显示，岛屿和大陆种子收集中分别有 83% 和 71% 的所有母系家庭需要重新采样，以捕获现有收集中 95% 的种子性状变异。从保护的角度来看，我们的结果表明，为了优化多利松种子收集中捕获的遗传多样性，最大化每个种群中采样的母体家庭数量是必要的。模拟显示，岛屿和大陆种子收集中分别有 83% 和 71% 的所有母系家庭需要重新采样，以捕获现有收集中 95% 的种子性状变异。从保护的角度来看，我们的结果表明，为了优化多利松种子收集中捕获的遗传多样性，最大化每个种群中采样的母体家庭数量是必要的。