| Abstract: | Eight trees were selected at age eight years from seed in each of 52 full‐sib families of Picea abies and were propagated by rooted cuttings. The parents were both of Norwegian and German origin. Results are presented for the variation in height growth in the progeny test and in the clonal test, for rooting percentages, and for plagiotropic growth. More than 40% of the total variance of rooting percentages is of genetic origin. In the set of crosses between Norwegian and German parents 18% of the clones were classified as plagiotropic, while the same number was 27% in the crosses between Norwegian parents. The plagiotropic growth reduces the correlations between ortets and ramets both at the individual and at the family level. Family information is important in the selection of ortets, and a culling of plagiotropic clones seems necessary to obtain a substantial gain from selection. |
