Seed Source

The choice of seed source is important in forestry to ensure that the planted trees are well adapted to the local environmental conditions, promoting healthy growth and sustainability.

TFS supplies an average of 20 tons of seeds from various tree species annually locally and internationally. These seeds have different uses such as timber, shade, fruits, medicine, firewood, agro-forestry, fibre, dye and cultural values.

The agency has verified seed sources of more than 150 different indigenous and exotic tree species which comprise high-quality seed orchards of Teak, Pines, Eucalyptuses and other indigenous species like Milicia excelsa, Khaya anthotheca and Afzelia quanzensis.

These verified seed sources have been managed, established and classified by traditional seed source classes including the FAO, DFSC, and OECD schemes.

There are five classes of seed zones. They are as follows;

• Seed collection zone (Z):

In this class, seed sources consist of scattered trees, shelterbelt plantings, groups of trees or small woodlots interspaced with little management effort for genetic quality.

• Unclassified seed source (U):

Seed sources that are in this class are inadequately described, poor quality of the trees and not managed. Seeds can be collected, raised and marketed with little or no supervision.

• Selected stand/ seed stand (S):

This class consists of a group of trees identified in a natural forest, forest plantation, or farmland with superior characteristics (straight stem or fast growth) with little or no management as a seed source.

• Seed production/ collection area (A):

In this class is a collection of trees in either a natural forest or plantation that is managed and regularly improved through selective thinning of poor-quality trees and retaining trees of superior quality at optimal space for seed production.

• Seed orchard (O):

This specific class is made of trees (clonal or seedling) from families of improved genetic quality for seed production, isolated from inferior trees of the same or closely related species.

Clonal garden, cutting orchards, clone propagation archives, vegetative propagules source (several names are used).

This special category became necessary as vegetative propagation became a common way of raising trees.

The source is known as the mother source of vegetative material which is used for the vegetative propagation of plants for bulk production.

The term clonal garden is sometimes confused with clonal (seed) orchard. However, although the parent material is often (but not always) clonal the distinction is that the harvested material from the clonal garden is vegetative material and not the seed. Vegetative material may be cuttings or explants for micro-propagation / tissue culture.