Influence of mistletoe (Viscum album) on the quality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seeds

Abstract

Mistletoe is semiparasite adversely affecting the functioning of their hosts especially at water management level. So far, there have been no reports about the impact of mistletoe on seeds from any host. The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of the presence of mistletoe on the quality of the seeds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Unopened cones from infected and uninfected trees were collected in April 2015 in the Excluded Seed Stand in Bolewice Forest District (52°2354.347N; 16°0501.978E). Measurements of cones and seeds were made. Some seeds were used for pot experiment, where the seedlings were planted from May to October 2015. On the second part of the seeds in the end of July and August germination tests were made. The size and mass of the cones, the number and weight of seeds, and the height and weight of the seedlings were lower for the material collected from the mistletoe trees. The differences were not large but statistically significant (tabs. 1 and 2). The results showed that mistletoe has a negative impact on the parameters of cones, seedlings and seeds quality