Clonal stability in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis> across New Zealand and Australia. I. Growth and form traits

To investigate genotype by environment interaction (G×E) for clones of radiata pine (Pinus radiata), clonal stability was evaluated for growth and form traits from three trials in New Zealand and three trials in Australia. There were 215–245 clones in common between pairs of New Zealand trials, 17–26 clones in common among Australian trials, while 32–52 clones were in common between New Zealand and Australian sites. Clonal repeatability ( [^(H)]² ) \left( {\hat{H}^{2} } \right) and type-B genetic correlations were estimated. The general trend across the six trials for clonal repeatability was that [^(H)]² \hat{H}^{2} was greatest for height (HGT) followed by diameter at breast height (DBH), stem straightness (STR), and branch quality score (BRQ). Within New Zealand trials, there was little evidence of G×E for growth traits, but more for form traits. For DBH the average type-B genetic correlation within New Zealand was 0.82; and for HGT, the average type-B genetic correlation within New Zealand was 0.76. Within Australia, there was only one statistically significant type-B genetic correlation for DBH and this estimate was high indicating that clonal ranks were similar on these two trials. Additionally, within Australia and between regions type-B genetic correlations were generally high for form traits, at least for STR. One Australian trial (Trial 5) showed relatively high clonal stability with the three trials in New Zealand indicating that the ranks of these clones were relatively stable in both regions. From a clonal testing standpoint, these results suggest that stable clones can be identified that perform well in both New Zealand and Australia. Improvements in both growth and form traits can be expected when radiata pine clones are transferred between Australia and New Zealand within regions similar to those sampled in this trial series.     

尾叶桉第1代与第2代群体间生长性状和木材材性的遗传控制对比研究

利用4个尾叶桉（Eucalyptus urophylla）自由授粉子代试验（其中D46、D54 2个试验为第1代子代试验,D135、SE35 2个试验为第2代子代试验）作为研究对象,对其生长性状和木材材性进行遗传参数估算.研究结果表明,生长性状和树皮性状受到较低的遗传控制,其狭义遗传力(h2):胸径(DBH) 0.0...     

斑皮桉生长性状及木材材性遗传参数估算

分别以位于澳大利亚新南威尔士州北部沿海地区Urunga、Coffs Harbour、Grafton和Casino的4个斑皮桉无性系试验作为研究对象,测定其林木生长性状和木材材性并进行遗传参数估算。研究表明,林木生长性状和木材材性均受到较高的遗传控制,胸径和树高的广义遗传力（H2）在0.46~0.71之间,Pilodyn值的广义遗传力在0.52~0.77之间,FAKOPP值的广义遗传力在0.64~0.85之间;Pilodyn值与FAKOPP值呈显著的正相关关系,但二者与胸径均无显著相关性;环境因子对生长性状和木材材性的影响显著;遗传与环境交互作用对木材材性影响不显著,但对生长性状如胸径有一定影响。     

Genetic parameters of growth and wood quality traits in Picea abies

Genetic parameters were estimated for wood and growth traits in two 19-yr-old clonal trials and a 40-yr-old full-sib progeny trial of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. In the clonal trials high (>0.4) broad-sense heritabilities were found for wood density traits, lignin content, number of internal cracks, growth traits, spiral grain and number of resin canals. Moderate (0.2–0.4) heritabilities were found for tracheid lumen diameter and cell wall thickness, microfibril angle and tracheid length, while low heritabilities (<0.2) were found for pulp yield, fibre strength, wood stiffness and wood colour. Lignin content and pulp yield showed low genetic variation, whereas the genotypic coefficient of variation for most other traits ranged between 5 and 15%. Most traits showed low levels of genotype by environment interaction. Among the wood properties, latewood proportion, earlywood density and ring density showed significant, adverse correlations with volume in both clonal trials.     

Use of wood shrinkage characteristics in breeding of fast-grown Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth in Vietnam

u| li]? Genotypic variation in wood total and partial shrinkage, basic density and growth traits was estimated in 51÷2 year old Acacia auriculiformis trees in a clonal test. li]? In the tangential, radial and longitudinal directions, the mean values were 2.64%, 1.64% and 0.77% for partial shrinkage, and 5.92%, 3.23%, and 0.96% for total shrinkage, respectively. Total and partial transverse shrinkage were significantly greater in sapwood than in heartwood. li]? Clonal repeatability (H _C ² ) estimates for partial shrinkage were lower than those for total shrinkage, and heartwood shrinkages had lower H _C ² than those for sapwood. Estimates of H _C ² were from 0.32 to 0.38 for total transverse shrinkage, comparable to H _C ² for both total and partial volumetric shrinkages (0.40 and 0.32, respectively). However, H _C ² for longitudinal shrinkages, total and partial coefficients of anisotropy were only from 0.09 to 0.18. li]? The genotypic coefficients of variation of all shrinkage traits varied from 5.45% to 8.02%. Total shrinkage was strongly positively correlated with partial shrinkage in each dimension. Genotypic correlations were not significant between shrinkage and growth traits or density. Strong and significant correlations between transverse shrinkage in heartwood and sapwood (0.87) indicated that juvenile shrinkage is a good genetic indicator of this trait in older trees. Utilisation du retrait du bois dans l’amélioration de l’Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth à croissance rapide au Vietnam.     

Growth and wood basic density of acacia hybrid clones at three locations in Vietnam

Field trials testing a total of 27 clones of the interspecific hybrid Acacia mangium × A. auriculiformis and seedling controls of the parental species were established at Ba Vi and Yen Thanh in the north of Vietnam and Long Thanh in the south. At both Ba Vi and Yen Thanh there were significant (P < 0.001) differences in height and diameter at breast height (DBH) among 22 tested clones at 4 years. At Long Thanh, twelve hybrid clones did not differ significantly in DBH at age 3 years, but did (P < 0.001) at age 5 years. At the two northern sites the acacia hybrid clones had significantly greater DBH than control seedlots of the parental species. At Long Thanh, DBH of the hybrid clones and A. mangium was similar, with a genetically improved seedlot of A. mangium displaying the best DBH. Mean wood basic density at breast height of the acacia hybrid clones was 539 kg m⁻³ at Yen Thanh at age 8 years, and 473 kg m⁻³ at Long Thanh at age 5 years; density for A. mangium at Long Thanh was only slightly lower than the hybrid clones at 461 kg m⁻³. Linear regressions of Pilodyn penetration (PP) at breast height on wood basic density explained 60% of the variance in density of treatments (clones and control seedlots) at Yen Thanh and 36% at Long Thanh. There were significant differences between hybrid clones in PP at all three trial sites. Clonal DBH performance was not strongly correlated across the three trial sites; Pearson correlations of clone mean DBH between pairs of sites ranged from −0.47 to 0.20. Clonal rankings for PP were more stable, with Pearson correlations between pairs of sites ranging from r = 0.71 to 0.78.     

Genotypic variation in wood density and growth traits of poplar hybrids at four clonal trials

Wood density is considered as one of the most important wood properties which affects the properties and value of both fibrous and solid wood products. The present study was intended for evaluating the possibilities of improving wood quality and growth of poplar hybrids. Wood density components of individual growth rings (minimum and maximum wood density, average ring density) and growth traits (tree height, dbh, stem volume) were measured in four 10- and 12-year-old clonal trials of four poplar hybrids, Populus deltoides × P. nigra, P. trichocarpa × P. deltoides, P. maximowiczii × P. balsamifera, and P. balsamifera × P. nigra, as well as P. deltoides. Wood density components of individual growth rings were obtained from microdensitometeric profiles measured with a direct reading X-ray densitometer. Site had a moderately significant effect on wood density and a highly significant effect on tree growth. The hybrid effect was highly significant (P < 0.001) for most traits. Minimum, maximum and weighted wood densities were found to be under strong genetic control, with clonal repeatabilities varying between 0.45 and 0.81. The coefficient of genotypic variation (CV_G) for wood density at individual sites ranged from 4.0 to 6.8%, whereas CV_G for dry fiber weight (mass) reached 32.8% with repeatabilities of up to 0.67. A small but significant (P = 0.028) hybrid × environment interaction was found for dry fiber weight. The highest ecological sensitivity was found for P. deltoides × P. nigra, with ecovalence reaching 32.3%. Clonal × environment interaction was significant for weighted, average, and minimum wood density. Significant negative genotypic correlations between stem volume and wood density ranged from −0.39 to −0.74. One possible strategy in tree breeding would be to maximize wood fiber production through selection for dry fiber weight.     

QTL detection for growth traits in Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis

Quantitative trait locus （QTL） detection was carried out for growth traits in 122 F1 progenies of Pinus elliottiivar. elliottii （PEE） x tR caribaea var. hondurensis （PCH） hybrid. The PCH male parent linkage map contained 108 mark- ers in 16 linkage groups, while the PEE female parent contained 93 markers in 19 linkage groups. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism （SRAP）, microsatellite （SSR）, expressed sequence tag polymorphism （ESTP） and inter-simple sequence repeat （ISSR） were selected from an existing linkage map. Growth traits investigated were height at age five （HT05） and six years （HT06）, diameter at breast height at age five （DBH05） and six years （DBH06） and annual growth from age five to six years of height （AGHT） and diameter at breast height （AGDBH）. KruskaI-Wallis and interval mapping approaches were used to estimate levels of significance, the number of QTLs, the percentage of the phenotypic varia- tion explained by each of QTLs and their positions on the genetic linkage maps. Twenty six QTLs with significance levels p 〈 0.05 were detected on the parental maps for the six growth traits, which explained more than 15% of the phenotypic variation, suggesting an existence of major-effect genes. Several QTLs had the pleiotropy controlling more than one sin- gle growth trait. Overall, the proportion of phenotypic variation explained by QTLs ranged from 5.9% to 40.6% for HT05 and HT06, from 6.6% to 42.0% for DBH05 and DBH06 and from 5.8% to 22.3% for AGHT and AGDBH. The results from this study provide a basis for marker-aided selection （MAS） in PEE x PCH hybrids.     

Does selecting for improved growth affect wood quality of Pinus pinaster in Portugal?

The selection criteria for the first generations in the Portuguese Pinus pinaster improvement program have been the growth rate and form traits. In this work we study the consequences of this selection on wood quality traits. This study assesses genetic and phenotypic correlation between growth, wood density components, lignin content and mechanical traits (radial modulus of elasticity and radial modulus of rupture) of 46 half sib families from a progeny trail located in Leiria, Portugal, originated from seed collected in a clonal seed orchard. A total of 552 seventeen-years-old trees (about half of full rotation age) were sampled at 2 m height. Height measured at 12 years old presented a higher genetic control (h² = 0.34) relatively to DBH, measured at 12 and 17 years old respectively (h² = 0.17 and h² = 0.15). The results of this study also showed that DBH growth is more dependent on latewood components than earlywood components and that higher growth in Mediterranean regions can be due to an increase of the period of latewood formation. Further, we can conclude genetic selection based on growth will not result in a decrease of wood density, will not affect the occurrence of spiral grain, and is possible to obtain an increase in the radial modulus of elasticity. The present study also showed that it is possible to select for increased growth with lower lignin proportion. Results also suggest that selection for growth at 12 years will probably not affect negatively the wood properties at 17 years.     

Performance of full-sib families of Douglas-fir in pure-family and mixed-family deployments

A major objective of tree improvement programs is to identify genotypes that will perform well in operational deployments. Relatively little is known, however, about how the competitive environment affects performance in different types of deployments. We tested whether the genetic composition and density of deployments affect the performance of full-sib families of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga meniziesii), and whether traits related to crown morphology could help to explain differences in family performance under competition. Seedlings from eight families were planted in pure-family and three mixed-family composition treatments at high, medium, and low densities (11,954, 2988, and 747 trees·ha⁻¹, respectively). Height (HT), diameter at breast height (DBH), and volume·ha⁻¹ (VOLHA) were measured at ages 8 and 15 years. Significant differences were found among composition treatments in all traits other than VOLHA8 and significant interactions between composition and density treatments were found for all traits at age 15 years. Family ranks for DBH15 and VOLHA15 in pure-family treatments changed considerably among densities, but ranks were more stable for HT15. The performance of two mixed-family treatments differed significantly from the average performances of the same families in pure-family treatments for several traits. Differences in DBH15 among families in high-density, pure-family treatments could be explained in part by differences in crown morphology, with better performance among families with relatively narrow crowns, stout branches, and high leaf area relative to branch length. Our results suggest that the competitive environment has a considerable effect on family performance, and that incorporating crown morphology traits into selection criteria in tree improvement programs may lead to greater productivity of Douglas-fir.     

Effect of species and spacing of fast-growing nurse trees on growth of an indigenous tree, Hopea odorata Roxb., in northeast Thailand

We tested the effects of species and spacing of nurse trees on the growth of Hopea odorata, a dipterocarp tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, in a two-storied forest management system in northeast Thailand. Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia auriculiformis, and Senna siamea were planted as nurse trees in 1987 at spacings of 4 m × 8 m, 2 m × 8 m, 4 m × 4 m, and 2 m × 4 m in the Sakaerat Silvicultural Research Station of the Royal Forest Department, Thailand. Seedlings of H. odorata were planted in the nurse tree stands at a uniform spacing of 4 m × 4 m and in control plots (no nurse trees) in 1990. Stem numbers of some nurse trees were thinned by half in 1994. The stem diameter and height of all trees were measured annually until 1995 and again in 2007. The mean annual increment (MAI) in volume was estimated as 8.2–10.1 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for E. camaldulensis and 0.9–1.2 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for S. siamea, smaller than reported elsewhere. This suggests that the site properties were not suitable for them. The MAI of A. auriculiformis was 7.9–9.8 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, within the reported range. Survival rates of H. odorata in the S. siamea stands and the control plots decreased rapidly during the first 2 years but then stayed constant from 1992. In contrast, survival rates of H. odorata in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands were initially high (>70%), but then decreased after 1995. Stem diameter, tree height, and stand basal area of H. odorata were large in both the S. siamea stands and the control plots from then. The growth of H. odorata was largest in the 2 m × 8 m S. siamea stands. In contrast, it was restricted in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands owing to strong shading by their canopies. Thinning by 50% tended to facilitate the growth of H. odorata temporarily in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands. The stand basal areas of nurse trees and of H. odorata showed a trade-off. These results suggest that the growth of H. odorata was maximized in the S. siamea stands. We assume, however, that the growth of H. odorata could be improved even in the E. camaldulensis and A. auriculiformis stands by frequent or heavy thinning.     

Variation and selection analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis> clones in northeast China

Understanding genetic variation is important for efficiently selecting excellent clones and utilizing genetic resources during tree breeding. We investigated 16 growth traits of 50 32-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones. Analyses of variance showed that all the test traits differed significantly among clones. Average height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and volume of all clones were 10.41 m, 21.30 cm, and 0.148 m³, respectively. Phenotypic coefficients of variation and repeatabilities of traits ranged from 4.37 to 48.03% and from 0.013 to 0.900, respectively. There exists significant positive correlations among heights, diameter at different heights (1.3, 3.0, 5.0 m), and volumes; genetic correlation was close to phenotype correlation. Using four growth traits (height, DBH, volume, average crown width) as indices for a comprehensive evaluation, five clones (PK 11, PK 19, PK 04, PK 14, and PK 28), whose traits scored in the top 10%, were selected as elite clones. For these clones, genetic gains in height, DBH, volume and crown height were 8.58, 13.02, 32.72 and 3.83%, respectively. These results provide important information for improving P. koraiensis breeding programs.     

Genetic control of fiber properties and growth in triploid hybrid clones of Populus tomentosa

To better understand the genetic control of fiber properties (fiber length [FL], fiber width [FW] and coarseness [C]) and growth traits (tree height [H], diameter at breast height [DBH] and stem volume [SV]) in triploid hybrid clones of Populus tomentosa carr., genetic relationships among selected fiber properties with growth traits were examined in five-year-old clonal field trials located in Yanzhou, Gaotang and Xiangfen, China. In total, 180 trees from 10 clones were sampled from the three sites. The site had a moderate effect on FW, C and tree growth, and a highly significant (P<0.001) effect on FL and fiber length/width (FL/W). Clonal effects were also significant (P<0.05) for all studied traits except for the DBH and SV. Clone×site interactions were significant for all studied traits (except for FL). The estimated repeatability of clonal mean for FL (0.91) was higher than for FW (0.88), C (0.77), FL/W (0.74), H (0.62), DBH (0.61) and SV (0.55). Intersite genetic correlation estimates indicated that fiber properties were more stable than growth traits. Positively insignificant genetic correlation estimates between FL and growth trait and negatively insignificant genetic correlation estimates between C and growth traits were observed. This suggests that in the triploid hybrid poplar, clones selection for growth traits will not result in a significant increase or reduction in the fiber properties.     

Variation and selection analysis of Pinus koraiensis clones in northeast China

Understanding genetic variation is important for efficiently selecting excellent clones and utilizing genetic resources during tree breeding. We investigated 16 growth traits of 50 32-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones. Analyses of variance showed that all the test traits differed significantly among clones. Average height, diameter at breast height(DBH), and volume of all clones were 10.41 m, 21.30 cm,and 0.148 m3, respectively. Phenotypic coefficients of variation and repeatabilities of traits ranged from 4.37 to48.03% and from 0.013 to 0.900, respectively. There exists significant positive correlations among heights, diameter at different heights(1.3, 3.0, 5.0 m), and volumes; genetic correlation was close to phenotype correlation. Using four growth traits(height, DBH, volume, average crown width)as indices for a comprehensive evaluation, five clones(PK11, PK 19, PK 04, PK 14, and PK 28), whose traits scored in the top 10%, were selected as elite clones. For these clones,genetic gains in height, DBH, volume and crown height were 8.58, 13.02, 32.72 and 3.83%, respectively. These results provide important information for improving P.koraiensis breeding programs.     

Genotypic variation in wood properties and growth traits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> hybrid clones in southern China

Growth traits, wood properties and bark percentage were assessed for 19 hybrid eucalypt clones at three sites in southern China sampled at age 51 months. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences in growth traits and wood properties between clones and sites, and that the clone × site interactions were also significant except for basic density. Coefficients of variation ranged from 8.4 to 27.9% for growth traits, 2.7–11.1% for wood properties and 14.0–23.3% for bark percentage. Repeatability ranged from 0.73 to 0.96 for growth traits, 0.32–0.93 for wood properties and 0.77–0.88 for bark percentage. Strong genotypic correlations between the same traits in clones at pairs of sites indicated that the traits were rather stable across sites. The genotypic correlations between growth traits and basic density ranged from −0.67 to 0.43, and generally favorable negative genotypic correlations between growth traits and bark percentage were also found. The correlations between growth traits and Pilodyn pin penetration were positive, ranging from 0.28 to 0.65 and therefore unfavorable as lower wood density will be associated with higher values of Pilodyn pin penetration and improved growth rate. The correlations between traits assessed using non-destructive field methods and wood property assessment results indicated that Pilodyn and Fakopp microsecond timer tools can be confidently used to indirectly select for fiber width and basic density.     

Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilization on the productivity of subsequent stands of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest

The carryover effects of N fertilization on five coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) plantations were studied. “Carryover” is defined as the long-term impact of N fertilizer added to a previous stand on the growth of a subsequent stand. Average height and diameter at 1.3 m above-ground (DBH) of 7–9-year-old Douglas-fir trees and biomass and N-content of understory vegetation were assessed on paired control (untreated) and urea-N-fertilized plots that had received cumulative additions of 810–1120 kg N ha⁻¹ to a previous stand. Overall productivity was significantly greater in the fertilized stands compared to the controls. In 2006, the last growth measurement year, mean seedling height was 15% greater (p = 0.06) and mean DBH was 29% greater (p = 0.04) on previously fertilized plots compared to control plots. Understory vegetation biomass of fertilized plots was 73% greater (p = 0.005), and N-content was 97% greater (p = 0.004) compared to control plots. These results show that past N fertilization markedly increased seedling growth in these plantations as well as biomass and N-content of understory vegetation in a subsequent rotation. These findings suggest that N fertilization could potentially increase site productivity of young Douglas-fir stands found on low quality sites in the Pacific Northwest 15–22 years after application by a carryover effect. These plantations have not yet reached the age where marketable materials can be harvested from them, and the growth of trees should be monitored over a longer time period before potential impacts on older stands, if any, can be determined.     

Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils

The aim of this work was to investigate differences in soil chemistry and understory composition between recent forests (sites afforested in the last 170 years) and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. The study was carried out on hardwood forests at moderate elevation (400–600 m asl) in the Jura Mountains (N.E. France) on four main pedological substrates with different characteristics. The floristic composition of 127 stands from recent forests (n = 65) or ancient forests (n = 62) was surveyed. Some functional traits and the Ellenberg indicator values of the surveyed species were recorded. In addition, the topsoil from 30 stands was analysed. The composition of the flora was analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the species which were typical of one class of forest age were identified using a chi-square (χ²) test. The difference between forest classes for plant traits, their indicator values, or soil chemistry was tested using the generalized linear model and Bonferroni t-tests (or Kruskall–Wallis tests). The floristic composition of the ancient forests was significantly different from that of the recent forests and was characterized by a high occurrence of shrub species in recent forests. These differences were associated with higher specific leaf area, low-range seeds dispersal, and some life forms like geophytes. There was no clear difference in soil chemistry between the two classes of forests, except for δ¹⁵N values. The weakness of the difference in the soil between ancient and recent forests suggested that changes in soil chemistry caused by a former agricultural land use were not responsible for the differences in understory composition recorded. The differences in functional traits between the two forest classes supported this conclusion. We finally concluded that (i) past land use modifies the vegetation composition of current forests, even on neutral soils and that (ii) in our context, biological filters were probably responsible for these changes.     

马尾松优树群体特征分析

为进一步优化马尾松无性系并选育脂-材兼用马尾松良种,以马尾松种子园的54个无性系为试验材料,测量该群体树高、胸径、产脂量并计算材积和产脂力,分析该群体特征,为构建脂-材兼用马尾松育种群体提供依据。分析结果表明,各性状群体变幅不大,无性系间和试验误差的方差分量占比相当,遗传因素和环境因素可能共同影响马尾松表型;树高、胸径、材积、产脂量、产脂力的无性系重复力较大,分别达到0.693、0.792、0.793、0.873、0.836;胸径和材积表型与产脂表型极显著相关;根据材积和产脂力选出PM1、PM6、PM9等18个脂-材兼用无性系,其材积和产脂力平均期望增益分别达到26.19%和28.79%,这些无性系有助于将来继续选育马尾松。     

桉树杂种无性系生长和木材密度的选择

对以尾叶桉为母本、细叶桉等5个树种为父本的79个桉树杂种无性系进行了生长和木材密度的选择研究,性状包括9月生树高和80月生木材密度以及68、80、91和103月生树高、胸径和材积.结果表明:无性系间的差异在各性状上均达0.001极显著水平;各性状的重复力介于0.21~0.48之间,受低到中等程度的遗传控制;性状间表型相关均达0.001显著水平.本研究选出生长和木材密度均高于对照DH32-29的尾叶桉 ? 细叶桉杂种优良无性系8个,103月生平均单株材积为对照的101.5%~126.1%、80月生平均木材密度为对照的121.1%~147.4%,这为下一步的无性系中试提供了备选材料.