%0 Research article
%T The extent of south-north pollen transfer in Finnish Scots pine
%A Varis, Saila
%A Pakkanen, Anne
%A Galofré, Aina
%A Pulkkinen, Pertti
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 5
%R doi:10.14214/sf.168
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/168
%X In order to evaluate the possibility of long distance gene flow in Scots  pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), we measured the amount and germinability of  airborne pollen and flowering phenology in central, northern, and  northernmost Finland during 1997–2000. Totally 2.3% of the detected  germinable pollen grains were in the air prior to local pollen shedding.  The mean number of germinable pollen grains m<sup>–3</sup> air per day  was lower prior to local pollen shedding, but in the year 2000 there  were more germinable pollen grains in the air of central study site  prior to local pollen shedding. Prior to the onset of pollen shedding,  7.5% of female strobili which we observed were receptive. On average  female strobili became receptive three days earlier than local pollen  shedding started. During the period of pollen shedding in the central  study site, we detected germinable airborne pollen in the northern site  in years 1997, 1999 and 2000. At the northermost site, we detected  germinable airborne pollen during the pollen-shedding period of the  northern site in 2000. Our detection of germinable airborne pollen and  synchrony of strobili maturation from south to north suggest that  populations of Scots pine in central and northern Finland may provide  genetic material to populations in northern and northernmost Finland,  respectively.