Conifers of India and their Wild Gene Resources in Relation to tree Breeding

There are about 11 genera and 24 species of conifers native to India. Only 4 genera, Abies, Cedrus, Picea and Pinus form extensive forests. Distribution, natural variation and species diversity are described. An assessment of their wild gene resources is made on the basis of field observation in the Himalayas for conifer breeding work. It is shown that intraspecific variation is comman in many species especially in the widely distributed ones. Provenance research and control of seed origins are considered to be essential for selection and choice of parent trees in intra - and interspecific hybridization work.