Interline variability of Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) photosynthetic pigments

The analysis of the contents of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid in the needles of seven-year-old Austrian pine seedlings was performed at Jelova Gora. Forty Austrian pine half-sib lines are included in the seed orchard with metapopulation structure. The samples were collected in June and October of the same year and the content of photosynthetic pigments was measured in acetonic solution by Wetstein method. The average chlorophyll a and b ratio for the study half-sib lines in June was 1,689 and in October 9,092. The variations of chlorophyll a and b ratio both in June and in October were not observed in Austrian pine. The absence of significant correlations of the contents of photosynthetically active substances during the growth season can be explained by their variability in the particular half-sib lines, as well as by different reaction of the particular half-sib lines to the effect of environmental factors, first of all temperature, light, moisture etc. on the presence of chloroplast pigments. The coefficients show the absence of interdependence of the analyzed photosynthetically active substances and basic elements of growth.