Seed production in woodland and isolated trees of Eucalyptus melliodora (yellow box, Myrtaceae) in the South Western Slopes of New South Wales

Abstract

Seed production in woodland and isolated Eucalyptus melliodora Cunn. ex Schauer trees was investigated. Measurement of physical parameters such as mean capsule weight, mean seed weight and mean ratio of the weight of the capsule contents to the weight of the empty capsule showed no significant differences between woodland and isolated trees. In contrast, reproductive output as measured by mean number of seeds per capsule, mean number of seeds per 10 g of capsule contents and mean seed weight as a percentage of the weight of the capsule contents, was significantly lower (45–48% less) in isolated trees than in woodland trees. Mean percentage seed germination was also significantly lower (14% less) in the isolated trees and the mean number of viable seeds per 10 g of capsule contents was only 38% of the woodland trees. These results indicate that E. melliodora, like many eucalypts, has a mixed mating breeding system with preferential outcrossing but is also capable of self pollination leading to a reduction in seed yield and viability. The woodland and isolated trees produced a mean of 4.6 and 2.1 seeds per capsule, respectively. It would be relatively easy to collect large numbers of seeds from isolated trees of E. melliodora and subsequently propagate potentially genetically inferior plants.