Variability of cones and seedscalesin picea species and their forms in conditions of the city of Omsk

The study addressedthe morphometric indicators of cones and seed scales, such as length, width, and weight (before opening and after drying). Similarly, seed scales were measured, the marginal lines were described, and the number of seed scales in the cones was counted. The summary tables showed significant differences in the length and width of cones (Student's criterion). The correlation analysis was used to quantify the association between various indicators and the seed scale size. The samples were collected in the Genze Dendrological Garden, a natural landmark of regional significance. The study was carried out usingMolchanov and Smirnov’s (1967) method in the summer-autumn period. Siberian spruce (both blue and green forms), Serbian spruce, Colorado spruce (green form), and Canadian spruce had medium and large cones, which indicates a high adaptive capacity of these species. The length of cones in blue-grey and golden forms of Colorado spruce was below the average, indicating a low adaptive ability of the introduced species in the West Siberian foreststeppe...