From flowering to artificial pollination in larch for breeding and seed orchard production

In larches, breeding and production of improved seeds in seed orchards are difficult because of the particular reproductive biology of these species. This paper presents original technological developments, particularly from CEMAGREF and INRA in France, in the field of flowering induction, mechanized pollen harvesting, controlled crosses for breeding and supplemental mass pollination in seed orchards. Problems related to pollen drying and testing are also discussed briefly.