Variation analysis and fine family selection on half-sib progenies from clonal seed orchard of Pinus massoniana

Variation of traits that include height, diameter at breast height (DBH), stem volume, crown width, straightness, wood basic density, tracheid length and width of open-pollinated progenies from clonal seed orchard of Pinus massoniana was analyzed. Differences in traits such as growth, tree form and wood quality among families was significant, which indicated that the improvement potential was notable. Heritability of height and wood basic density reached 0.691 and 0.640, respectively. According to a correlation analysis between traits, stem straightness could be improved indirectly when growth traits are improved; growth traits were significantly correlated with wood basic density; and wood basic density was not significantly correlated with length and width of the tracheid. Under the selection ratio of 10%, genetic gains were 19.74% and 19.32% respectively, and selected families from the progeny test stands at the age of five years and eight years were the same. Genetic correlation of height, DBH and stem volume was also significant at the level of 0.01. These show that selection of the short rotation of P. massoniana for pulp and paper use would be efficient for five-year-old trees. According to the comparison of the heritability of all the traits and taking into account the result of canonical correlation analysis, height could be considered as the most important index for selection. Given wood quality of all the families, and flowering and fruit settings of the clones in a seed orchard, twelve fine families were selected at 10% selection ratio of height growth and stem volume. Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2005, 41(6): 43–49 [译自: 林业科学]     

Correlations and clines in tree growth and wood density of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balanites aegyptiaca</Emphasis> (L.) Delile provenances in Niger

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile provides wood and other essential products for farming and pastoralist communities in the West African Sahel. In this region, mean annual rainfall decreases in general from south to north and from west to east, so one might expect clinal variation in fitness-related traits in relation to the rainfall gradients. This paper presents results from a provenance/progeny test of 11 provenances sampled in Niger and established at one relatively dry site in Niger. The objectives were to evaluate phenotypic correlations (Pearson r) between tree growth (height, stem diameter) and basic density of the wood, and clines in growth and density at 13 years. Tree growth and wood density were positively correlated, and the correlations differed among provenances. Mean tree height and stem diameter of provenances increased, in general, from the more humid to the drier parts of the sample region. Results suggest that selection of faster-growing trees could lead to an increase in wood volume and density in the subsequent generation, especially in certain provenances; that provenances from drier areas are better adapted to drought; and that tree improvement and conservation programs should collect seeds from populations in the drier areas for planting and conservation.     

马尾松无性系种子园半同胞子代变异分析和家系选择

以福建省漳平五一林场马尾松无性系种子园自由授粉子代半同胞家系为研究对象,分析其树高、胸径、材积、冠幅、通直度、高径比、冠径比、木材基本密度、管胞长度和宽度、管胞长宽比等性状,发现家系间除管胞长宽比性状差异显著,其余性状均达差异极显著,暗示着马尾松种子园半同胞家系间存在较为丰富的变异,具选育潜力。8年生林分内各性状的家系遗传力以树高性状为最高(0·691),其次是木材基本密度(0·640)。各性状间的相关性分析结果表明,生长量性状的改良可间接改善通直度,且生长量性状与木材基本密度存在显著正相关关系,木材基本密度与管胞长度和宽度不相关。采用10%入选率,发现5年生林分和8年生林分入选家系一致,材积遗传增益分别达19·74%和19·23%,且5年生林分和8年生林分生长量性状的遗传相关极显著,认为马尾松制浆造纸材短轮伐期的初选年龄可确定为5年生;根据性状遗传力的相对大小和典型相关分析的结果,认为马尾松家系选择可适当注重树高生长量指标。以树高和材积为选择指标,按照10%入选率,兼顾材性和种子园内无性系的开花结实情况,筛选出制浆造纸材短轮伐期优良家系12个。     

Growth and wood density of Pinus taeda L. as affected by shelterwood harvest in a two-aged stand in Southern Brazil

Pine plantations are an important wood source in Brazil, with Pinus taeda being most frequently planted. Most pinewood is directed to the paper and pulp industry, but there is an increasing demand for wood for solid end-uses, requiring large stems from longer rotations which can be obtained using P. taeda as the canopy in two-aged stands. We evaluated radial growth and wood density at different stem heights of P. taeda in the highlands of Southern Brazil over a production period of 36 years and subjected to shelterwood harvest. Cross-sectional disks were obtained from 15 trees in different stem heights; 10 were used for growth analyses and 5 for growth and density analyses. We used disk images and X-ray techniques for growth and density analyses, respectively. Samples were analyzed for ring (width and density), earlywood, and latewood (width, density, and proportion). Ring width varied between 0.4 and 1.7 cm, with the widest rings in the first years (3–5 years.) of growth. Ring density increased with age, with higher densities on the lower stem portions. Mature wood started to be formed from the 16th ring onwards. Shelterwood harvest affected both ring width and density, but the effects on ring width lasted for at least 5 years, while the effects on wood density were short-lasting. Mature P. taeda trees increased their size after the shelterwood harvest without compromising their wood density. Longer production periods of P. taeda as retained trees in the canopy of two-aged stands provide high-quality wood for structural purposes.

     

柚木种源生长和与材质有关特性的遗传变异及综合评价

对海南岛乐东尖峰岭27年生柚木6个种源的生长及与材质有关特性进行测定与分析,结果表明:种源间树皮厚度、心材宽度、基本密度差异极显著,树高、材积、枝下高、边材宽度差异显著,而胸径、边材年轮数及心材率差异不显著,说明在种源水平上对柚木进行生长和与材质有关特性的改良具有较大的潜力,尤其进行木材生长性状、基本密度和心材宽度的种...     

Geographic variation and genetic performance of Picea koraiensis in growth and wood characteristics

Eight provenances of 19-year-oldPicea koraiensis Nakai from the provenance trials of Maoershan (45°20′N, 127°30′E), Liangshui (47°10′N, 128°53′E) and Jiagedaqi (50°24′N, 124°07′E) in Northeast China were investigated to analyze the genetic variation in growth characteristics (tree height and diameter) and wood characteristics (tracheid length, tracheid diameter, tracheid wall thickness, annual ring width as well as wood density). Great variation in height growth and breast height diameter growth was observed among the provenances, and along with the increase of tree age, these provenances presented different geographic adaptability. The growth characteristics ofPicea koraiensis stand at age of 10 in Maoershan and Liangshui provenance trials had a positive correlation with longitude, and with increase of tree age to 15 and 19, the tree growth of the provenances displayed a significant positive correlation with latitude as well as altitude. For wood characteristics, great variation was also found among the provenances. There exists a close relation between growth characteristics and wood properties of the provenance. The height and breast height diameter growth of the provenance had a positive correlation with tracheid diameter and annual ring width, and a negative correlation with tracheid wall thickness and wood density. Genetic performance of the provenance in all above characteristics was also investigated in order to provide more useful information for comprehensive selection of this species for pulpwood and plywood production. Foundation item: The paper was supported by National Key Project of The State Forestry Administration. (96-011-01-06) Biography: WANG Qiu-yu (1957-), female, professor in College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Basic density,longitudinal shrinkage and tracheid length of juvenile wood of Picea abies (L.) Karst

Variation in the growth ring width, basic density, longitudinal shrinkage and tracheid length was investigated in the juvenile wood of Norway spruce samples taken from different heights in the stem. Annual height increments were cut from the ten youngest shoots from trees of three different heights. By this method the properties of an individual growth ring could be analysed without taking samples from each ring. Sixteen tree tops of an average stem height of 8, 15 and 25 m were analysed. Basic density was low in the first shoot, highest in the second or third one and decreased gradually thereafter. Longitudinal shrinkage was highest close to the pith and decreased to about 0.2% in the outer rings. Tracheids were only ca. 1 mm long close to the pith and their length increased sharply towards the tenth shoot. The properties of juvenile wood varied with the height in the stem. Longitudinal shrinkage around the pith seemed to increase with increasing height and basic density was highest at 25 m stem height. The applicability of the method for the calculation of basic density and tracheid length in individual growth rings close to the pith is discussed.     

Effect of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of Corsican pine

This study considered the effects of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of 35-year-old stand of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra L.). Part of the stand had been thinned at 5-yearly intervals and part left unthinned. Twenty trees each from the thinned and unthinned stands were randomly selected and felled. Measurements were made on tree height, stem diameter, stem slenderness and canopy depth. Wood samples were removed from the central part of the main log and cross-sectional measurements made on ring width, basic density and compression wood content. Cross-sectional area of compression wood was found to be three time higher in stems from the unthinned trees in comparison with those from the thinned trees. No significant differences in mean radial ring width or basic density were found between treatments. Correlations indicated that, with increasing in stem diameter, compression wood content increased in the unthinned trees, while a decline in compression was observed in the thinned trees. Tree height was also positively correlated with compression wood content in unthinned trees, while no equivalent relationship was observed in thinned trees. Observations from this study, while not conclusive, suggest that phototropic stimulus may be producing stem inclinations in the unthinned stand as trees compete for space in the canopy, whereas crown competition has been largely eliminated in the thinned stand; and that this is responsible for compression wood levels recorded in this study.     

Effect of growth on wood properties for Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi): Differences of annual ring structure between corewood and outerwood

To investigate the relations between growth and the wood properties of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), six sample trees of varied ages and radial growth were felled and the ring width, ring density, percentage of latewood, and some other factors were determined. There were significant differences in ring density and percentage of latewood between sample trees with vigorous growth and those with poor growth. In corewood the ring density decreased with increasing ring width for all sample trees, whereas in outerwood this trend did not appear. Moreover, the latewood width increased with the increment of ring width only in outerwood, whereas there was almost no change in the corewood. The variation in patterns of ring width, ring density, and percentage of latewood in the radial direction and the relation with height was also studied.Part of this report was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997     

Age trends in the genetic parameters of wood density and the relationship with growth rates in hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) F1

Age trends in variance components and heritability of overall wood density, earlywood and latewood density, and latewood proportion were investigated in 29-year-old trees of 19 full-sib families of hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × Larix kaempferi) F₁. The age–age correlation and optimum selection age for these traits were also estimated and genetic and phenotypic correlations between wood density and radial growth rate were calculated for each growth ring. Intraring wood density data were obtained using X-ray densitometry. The coefficient of additive genetic variance was stable over all ages, whereas the coefficient of environmental variances gradually decreased with increasing age, resulting in increases in heritability estimates with age for overall density. The latewood proportion had the highest heritability estimates at all ages, ranging from 0.44 to 0.66. Overall density and its various components at 28 years of age showed strong genetic correlations with their respective traits at all younger ages. Optimum selection ages for the wood density traits ranged from 8 to 14 years, at which point maximum gain efficiencies per year were obtained. There were negative correlations between wood density and radial growth rate at early ages, although these relationships tended to be weaker with increasing age. These results suggest that selection at a young age is effective for wood density, but particular care must be taken in selecting trees with an improved radial growth rate because rapid growth will result in a low-density wood product, especially in the early growth period.     

Genetic variation in wood color and its correlations with tree growth and wood density of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calycophyllum spruceanum</Emphasis> at an early age in the Peruvian Amazon

Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Shum. is an important timber-tree species in the Peruvian Amazon Basin. Markets currently prefer wood with a uniform, light yellow color, but these preferences may change in the future. As farmers and industry commonly use wood from young trees, it is important to investigate genetic and environmental variation in juvenile-wood properties to assess whether tree improvement programs could make adjustments to changing preferences. A provenance/progeny test was established to evaluate genetic variation in growth and wood properties of young trees, the strength of their genetic control as well as their interrelationships both at the genetic and the phenotypic level in different planting zones. This paper presents analyses of variation in wood color at 39 months, and their correlations with tree growth and wood basic density. CIELab means for lightness ranging from black to white (L), green to red hues (a*) and blue to yellow hues (b*) were 67.63, 5.34 and 22.12, respectively; means for chroma (C) and hue angle (h)* were 22.76 and 76.43, respectively (C and h* were estimated from a* and b*). Significant variation due to provenances and especially due to families within provenances was found in some wood color characteristics, and some color characteristics also differed significantly among planting zones. Genetic correlations indicate that, in general, selection of faster growing trees and/or trees with denser wood would have little effect on wood color and its uniformity. In general, wood color had relatively low heritability (h _i ²): among all trees, h _i ² = 0.31 for L; and variance due to families was not significant for a* and b*. Genetic control of color was highest in the planting zone where trees grew most rapidly: h _i ² = 0.48 and 0.52 for a* and b*, respectively; but variance due to families was not significant for L. Results suggest that selection based on wood color would be more effective in zones with more fertile soils and higher rainfall.      

The effect of the interaction of tree slenderness and relative height with ring width on wood density in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies balsamea</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea glauca</Emphasis>

Wood density affects the strength of lumber and paper products. Despite considerable research, however, the key factors influencing wood density are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of variables within and among trees on the density of current wood growth along the stem in order to further understanding and prediction of wood quality. Correlation analyses together with linear mixed effects and randomForest modelling were carried out using stem analysis and tree-level data from long-term balsam fir and white spruce stand density experiments in Eastern Canada. Wood density showed highly structured patterns of variation among trees. Mixed effects and randomForest models, which incorporated tree-level effects accounted for much of the wood density variation. The three most influential variables identified by randomForest analysis for both species were tree slenderness, relative height and ring width. Wood density increased with slenderness and relative height, and these variables affected relationships of wood density to ring width. Wood density is associated with interacting variables within and among trees including tree slenderness and relative height. Wood density is related to ring width, but this relationship is modulated by tree-level influences which likely reflect mechanical stability requirements.     

Genetic variation in wood density and correlations with tree growth in Prosopis africana from Burkina Faso and Niger

? Variation in wood basic density and its correlation with tree growth were investigated at 13 years in a provenance/progeny test of Prosopis africana in Niger. The test included progeny from 256 trees sampled from 24 provenances in the Sahelian ecozone of Burkina Faso and Niger.

? Variation in wood density was significant due to provenances and families within provenances. Individual tree heritability was higher for wood density than for growth traits. Provenance means for wood density increased from the more humid to the drier parts of the sample region. Phenotypic correlations indicated that larger trees tended to have denser wood.

? Clines suggest that natural populations of P. africana from the drier parts of the sample region have the genetic capacity to produce denser wood, compared with populations from the more humid parts of the region. Correlations and heritability estimates suggest that selection of faster-growing trees may produce a small gain in wood volume but little (if any) gain in density in the subsequent generation. Multi-location provenance/tests are needed to confirm this tentative conclusion.

     

25年生大花序桉种源生长与形质性状的遗传变异及选择

[目的]研究广西国有东门林场25年生大花序桉种源生长与形质性状的遗传变异,筛选优良种源及单株,为大花序桉良种繁育及中大径材培育提供优质遗传材料。[方法]采用方差分析、构建性状选择指数方程综合分析等方法,对11个大花序桉种源进行生长与形质性状遗传变异分析及选择。[结果]表明:大花序桉胸径(DBH)、树高(H)、单株材积(V)、树干通直度(ST)和树干圆满度(SF)在种源间呈极显著差异;上述5个主要性状的种源遗传力(H2)为0.634 0.895,单株遗传力(h2)为0.136 0.342;以DBH、H、V、ST和SF 5个性状指标构建大花序桉种源/单株选择指数方程,按标准选择出4个优良种源和13株优良单株,优良种源平均材积遗传增益达11.2%,优良单株平均材积遗传增益达29.7%,选择效果尚好。[结论]大花序桉5个主要性状遗传变异在种源水平受中度至较强遗传控制,在单株水平受弱度遗传控制。优良种源D47、S14127、B47和S12195生长材性兼优,可用作培育优质中大径材。     

Physical properties of wood in thinned Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) from plantations in northern Spain

? The physical properties of wood and the associated variations within and between trees were evaluated by analysing 770 small specimens of clear wood from 11 Pinus sylvestris L. trees thinned from 3 plantations.

? Within-tree variations in basic density or volumetric shrinkage increased with cambial age and decreased with increasing ring width. The effect of the height in the stem on wood properties was considered indirect and height was not included as an explanatory variable in the mixed models proposed to estimate basic density and volumetric shrinkage.

? The models had random components for the intercept parameter and explained 52.5% of the total variance in basic density and 56% of the total variance in volumetric shrinkage. Linear shrinkage in the direction of the grain was extremely variable.

? Between-tree variation and between-plot variation in the physical properties of wood were high, considering that all trees sampled were growing in similar sites and stands. It would then be desirable to predict physical properties of wood on living trees in order to use the quality of wood as a criterion for timber tree selection in thinnings.

     

Influence of initial planting spacing and genotype on microfibril angle,wood density,fibre properties and modulus of elasticity in Pinus radiata D. Don corewood

Pinus radiata D. Don trees from six clones, grown at initial spacings of 2500 stems ha⁻¹ and 833 stems ha⁻¹ were destructively harvested. For these trees wood properties were measured on radial slices sampled at a height of 1.4 m above the ground. Relative to wide spacing, close initial stand spacing significantly reduced microfibril angle (MFA) and ring width and significantly increased dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE), fibre length, latewood percentage and cell wall thickness. Density and fibre width were not significantly different between spacing treatments. Examination of the influence of genetic population on wood properties indicated that genotype significantly influenced MFA, MOE and ring width. The key wood properties MFA, MOE and fibre length were regressed against tree diameter, height and stem slenderness. All three wood properties were most strongly correlated with stem slenderness. Multiple regression models developed for MFA, MOE and ring width accounted for respectively 62%, 81% and 58% of the variation in these variables. The following changes occurred in sampled properties with increasing ring number: MFA and ring width declined markedly; MOE and fibre length increased markedly; latewood percentage and cell wall thickness increased slightly; and density and fibre width did not show any radial trend.     

木材材性株内径向变异模式初探VI19个杉木种源木材密度径向变异模式的研究

以微密度分析对19个种源杉木的木材密度径向变异模式进行了研究.不同种源间和种源内株间,年轮平均密度的径向变异曲线都存在一定的变异,但此变异主要表现在种源内株间.年轮平均密度的幼龄-成熟相关性从第3年起就极显著.由微密度分析得出的一系列密度和年轮宽特征值间的相关分析表明,在年龄影响下的变异过程中,年轮内密度变异曲线随年轮宽的变动导致晚材率变动的效应较为显著,年轮平均密度主要受晚材率影响;年轮平均密度与年轮宽呈特别显著的负相关.而在种源影响下的变异过程中分析,上述效应不明显,而不同种源间密度变异曲线的上下移动影响显著;年轮平均密度主要受早材平均密度影响;年轮平均密度与年轮宽的负相关远不如在年龄影响下的变异过程中显著.     

Ring characteristics and screw withdrawal resistance of naturally regenerated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">formosana</Emphasis> trees

The ring characteristics and screw withdrawal resistance (SWR) of naturally regenerated Taiwan yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana) trees were explored. Significant differences in average ring width (RW), earlywood width, latewood width, ring density (RD), earlywood density (ED), latewood density (LD), highest density (D_max), lowest density (D_min), latewood percentage (LWP), and SWR were observed between trees, rings (SWR excluded), and tree height positions. The RW components in the radial direction increased from the pith outward to about the 3rd to 5th ring and then decreased to about the 25th ring; it was almost constantly sustained toward the bark side. The RD in the radial direction slowly decreased from the pith outward to the bark side. Average ring width and ring density were significantly affected by the various tree growth rates, radial ring numbers, and tree height positions. ED, LD, D_max, D_min, and LWP were the most important factors determining the overall RD. RW did not correlate with tree RD. SWR is correlated with ED, RD, D_min, LWP, and intra-ring density variation (IDV). Thus, the SWR can be used to predict wood density and in nondestructive evaluation of a living tree.     

An investigation of the influence of selected factors on the properties of spruce wood

Thirty Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) from the forest district of the ETH Zurich were tested for bending MOR, static MOE of bending and dynamic MOE (calculated from eigenfrequency and sound velocity). The specimens were clear and were sampled from the whole of the stem. Their correlations to density, annual ring width, height in the tree, distribution over the stem diameter and the percentage of compression wood were statistically analysed. All three elasticity modules and the maximal stress can be very well predicted from a linear function of the sample density with a common gradient across the compression wood values but with different intercepts that decrease with increasing compression wood content. The other variables have highly significant impacts on the response variables too, however, this is largely irrelevant for the goodness of fit. Further, a clear increase of density, of MOE and of bending MOR was measured from pith to bark and similarly with decreasing annual ring width. Concerning the height of the stem, no distinct trend for the mechanical properties could be found.     

木材材性株内径向变异模式初探Ⅱ．七个加勒比松种源木材密度径向变异模式的研究

以微密度分析对属三个变种的七个加勒比松种源的木材密度径向变异模式进行了研究。主要结果是；各种源各株木材密度的径向变异曲线概貌大体一致，但不同种源间和种源内不同株间变异模式都有一定的变异，存在一定程度的不确定性；年轮平均密度的种源间差异在成熟材的大部分年龄上达０．０５或０．０１水平显著，而在幼龄材的半数年龄上差异不显著；表征变异模式的数字特征的种源间差异不显著。种源间和种源内株间年轮平均密度变异曲线间存在一定程度的交叉，种源间的年－年相关较显著，株间则大部分情况下相关不显著，但差异较大的株间相关显著。密度特征值间和密度特征值与年轮宽特征值间的关系，在年龄影响下和种源影响下两个变异过程中的分析结果，一部分比较一致，一部分则有差别。ＲＤ与ＲＷ的负相关主要表现在年龄影响下的变异过程中，而在种源影响下的变异过程并不显著。