Progress of gene conservation of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) in Lithuania

Evolutionary and financial advantages of breeding combined with gene conservation (GC) into a network of populations were discussed by e.g. Namkoong (1984), Eriksson et al (1993). In general, evolutionary and financial aspects are the main points making the scheme advantageous over the conventional in-situ conservation measures. The recent events with Norway spruce in Lithuania show advantages of the dynamic GC in securing sustainability of our gene pool. As, most probably, the losses here would have been much less if we would have had a network of properly managed conservation populations. It would be relevant to place this discussion on "the best" conservation strategy in the context of possible global climatic change with corresponding consequences. It might well be that we have already experienced this global event by facing consequences from the concerted damage by wind falls, dry summers and bark beetle. In this context we think the dynamic scheme which combines conservation and breeding is more suitable in conserving the process of evolution of our populations than any other approach. However, we consider a transitional approach, where we still maintain our in-situ and ex-situ conservation units. Assuming a clinal variation pattern, the Swedish Norway spruce breeding programme (Danell 1991, 1993) may serve as an example of Multiple Population Breeding System (MPBS) which may take care of the GC as well. Knowledge on pattern and degree of the genetic variation present in a region should serve as a basis for the programme. Provenance tests may indicate the pattern of the genetic variation, while experiments with family structure may reflect the degree of the variation. Existing pool of units conserved in-situ and ex-situ together with experimental plantations will constitute the initial material for the dynamic GC scheme. The corresponding MPBS for Scots pine is under development (Eriksson & Pliura 1997). Basically, the parameters would hold for Norway spruce with an adjustment according to the results from the undergoing experiments.

The progress

Over the past 2-3 years we were concentrating our activities in GC on the following main points (1) integrating the GC as a part of our regular forestry policy (2) developing the conservation strategy, which would be the most suitable to the pattern and amount of genetic variation present in Norway spruce, (3) coping with consequences of recent wind falls and invasion of bark beetle.

Concerning the National legislation on FGR we have achieved the following. In 1996 The Regulations on the Forest Genetic Reserves were prepared and approved by The Ministry of Forestry. The National Law on "Preservation of the Natural Flora" with a separate paragraph on the forest genetic resources was prepared.

Our strategy in GC is the following. The present network of gene conservation units includes ex-situ archives and in-situ genetic reserves (Table 1). As discussed above on our strategy, for the near future we will put emphasis on a scheme which combines conservation and breeding into MPBS. Meanwhile, we will still maintain the network of existing in-situ and ex-situ conservation units. Here we would prefer a transitional approach from the conventional to the dynamic conservation scheme (Fig. 1).

We have to estimate the damage by the wind falls and bark beetle to the Norway spruce seed stands and genetic reserves. Were possible, we are regenerating the damaged stands with the seed collected from these stands. Due to the large scale of the damage we have to select new genetic reserves, seed stands and plus trees. The amount of this work may be reflected by the data on what we had before and what we are having presently, see Table 1.

National data base on Norway spruce genetic resources was created. The descriptors based on EUFORGEN samples with a specified information for national use. National catalogue of the plant genetic resources with a section on the forest genetic resources was published (Pliura et al 1997). Regions for transfer of Norway spruce seed were re-approved (6 main regions, subdivided into 19 sub-regions). Our main research projects which are dealing with the GC are the following: "Adaptedness and quality of Norway spruce populations, conservation and use of genetic resource", "Genetic resources of plants"- is a joint project involving 8 research institutes in our country, "Programme of forest genetics and breeding".

Conclusion

There are alternative approaches in gene conservation. The choice would depend on the objectives of the conservation, pattern and amount of genetic variation present. We think that the MPBS which combines breeding and conservation is an advantageous approach. We all here are working with the same species. Thus, let’s take the conservation & breeding on "the discussion table"- should we put priority on it ?

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