Genetic selection for cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir seedlings and saplings

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1799-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A O'Neill ◽  
Sally N Aitken ◽  
W Thomas Adams
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Bud Set

Genetic control of cold hardiness in two-year-old seedlings was compared with that in 7-year-old saplings of 40 open-pollinated families in each of two breeding populations (Coast and Cascade) of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) from western Oregon. In addition, the efficacy of bud phenology traits as predictors of cold hardiness at the two stages was explored. Fall and spring cold hardiness were assessed using artificial freeze testing. Similar genetic control of cold hardiness in seedlings and saplings is suggested by strong type-B genetic correlations (rB) between the two ages for fall and spring cold injury traits (rB[Formula: see text] 0.78) and by similar trends in individual tree heritability estimates (hi2), e.g., hi2was greater in spring (h–i2= 0.73) than in fall (h–i2= 0.36) and greater in the Coast population (h–i2= 0.69) than in the Cascade population (h–i2= 0.40) at both ages. Strong responses to direct selection are expected for spring cold hardiness at both ages and for fall cold hardiness in seedlings, even under mild selection intensities. Similar heritabilities in seedlings and saplings, and strong genetic correlations between ages for cold-hardiness traits, ensure that selection at one age will produce similar gains at the other age. Type-A genetic correlations (rA) between fall and spring cold hardiness were near zero in the Cascade population (rA= 0.08 and -0.14 at ages 2 and 7, respectively) but were moderate and negative in the Coast population (rA= -0.54 and -0.36, respectively). Bud-burst timing appears to be a suitable surrogate to artificial freeze testing for assessing spring cold hardiness in both seedlings and saplings, as is bud set timing for assessing fall cold hardiness in seedlings, but bud set timing is a poor predictor of fall cold hardiness in saplings.

Genetics of cold hardiness in a cloned full-sib family of coastal Douglas-fir

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
T S Anekonda ◽  
W T Adams ◽  
S N Aitken ◽  
D B Neale ◽  
K D Jermstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Cold Injury ◽  
Narrow Sense ◽  
Family Selection ◽  
Rooted Cuttings ◽  
Breeding Populations

Variation in cold-hardiness traits, and their extent of genetic control and interrelationships, were investigated among individuals (clones) within a single large full-sib family of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) from Oregon. Cold injury to needle, stem, and bud tissues was evaluated in fall 1996 and spring 1997 following artificial freeze testing of detached shoots collected from 4-year-old ramets (rooted cuttings). Variation among clones in cold-injury scores was significant (p < 0.01) for all shoot tissues in both fall and spring and averaged about three times the magnitude previously observed among open-pollinated families of this species. Thus, improving cold hardiness by within-family selection appears to hold much promise. Striking similarities in relative magnitudes of heritability estimates and genetic correlations in the full-sib family, compared with breeding populations, support the following hypotheses about the quantitative genetics of cold hardiness in this species: (i) heritability of cold hardiness (both broad-and-narrow-sense) is stronger in the spring than in the fall; (ii) cold hardiness of different shoot tissues in the same season is controlled by many of the same genes; and (iii) genetic control of fall cold hardiness is largely independent of cold hardiness in the spring.

Genetic variation in fall cold hardiness in coastal Douglas-fir in western Oregon and Washington

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (7) ◽  
pp. 1110-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bradley St. Clair
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Population Differences ◽  
Bud Set

Genetic variation in fall cold damage in coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii ) was measured by exposing excised branches of seedlings from 666 source locations grown in a common garden to freezing temperatures in a programmable freezer. Considerable variation was found among populations in fall cold hardiness of stems, needles, and buds compared with bud burst, bud set, and biomass growth after 2 years. Variation in fall cold hardiness was strongly correlated (r = 0.67) with cold-season temperatures of the source environment. Large population differences corresponding with environmental gradients are evidence that natural selection has been important in determining genetic variation in fall cold hardiness, much more so than in traits of bud burst (a surrogate for spring cold hardiness), bud set, and growth. Seed movement guidelines and breeding zones may be more restrictive when considering genetic variation in fall cold hardiness compared with growth, phenology, or spring cold hardiness. A regional stratification system based on ecoregions with latitudinal and elevational divisions, and roughly corresponding with breeding zones used in Oregon and Washington, appeared to be adequate for minimizing population differences within regions for growth and phenology, but perhaps not fall cold hardiness. Although cold hardiness varied among populations, within-population and within-region variation is sufficiently large that responses to natural or artificial selection may be readily achieved.

Genetic control of bud phenology in pole-size trees and seedlings of coastal Douglas-fir

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1043-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
W.T. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Bud Set ◽  
Bud Phenology ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Lateral Branches

The extent to which bud phenology is genetically controlled and related to growth traits was examined in seedlings and pole-size trees of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Data on bud burst, bud set, and stem growth were collected from pole-size trees of 60 open-pollinated families growing in four plantations, and from seedlings of 45 of these same families growing in three trials. In both age-classes, bud burst was under moderate to strong genetic control (h2 ≥ 0.44) and family breeding values were stable across test environments, indicating that this trait could be readily altered in breeding programs. Bud set was inherited strongly in pole-size trees (h2 = 0.81) but weakly in seedlings (h2 < 0.30). Both bud burst and bud set were positively correlated with growth in seedlings and pole-size trees. Thus, selection for greater growth at either age-class is expected to delay bud burst and bud set. We also evaluated the accuracy of two alternatives for assessing bud burst phenology in pole-size trees compared with the traditional method. We show that bud-burst date on lateral branches can be used to accurately rank both individuals and families for bud-burst date on less accessible leader shoots. In addition, we found that families can be ranked for mean bud-burst date by the proportion of trees per family that have flushed on a given scoring day. This method is only effective, however, when between 25 and 75% of all trees in the test have flushed at the time of scoring.

Genetics of fall and winter cold hardiness of coastal Douglas-fir in Oregon

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1828-1837 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.N. Aitken ◽  
W.T. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Cold Injury ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Visible Injury ◽  
Late Fall ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Winter Cold ◽  
Two Stages

Genetic variation in fall cold hardiness was studied in two western Oregon breeding populations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), one on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains and the other in the Coast Range. On six sampling dates (September, October, and November of 1992 and January, September, and October of 1993), shoot cuttings from 40 open-pollinated families in each of two progeny test sites for each breeding zone were subjected to artificial freezing at two test temperatures. Damage on each shoot was recorded as visible injury to needle, stem, and bud tissues separately. Considerable family variation was found for cold injury scores in all tissues in early fall to midfall, but differences were often smaller or nonsignificant in late fall and midwinter. Individual heritability estimates for needle cold injury were low (<0.40) and generally decreased in late fall and midwinter. Family rankings for fall cold hardiness, however, are expected to be relatively consistent over sites and years, although needles appear to display more family-by-site interaction than stems or buds. Genetic correlations between tissues in cold injury varied considerably and were sometimes weak, indicating that the evaluation of a single tissue is probably not adequate for assessing overall cold hardiness of genotypes. Fall and winter cold hardiness seem to be largely under separate genetic control since genetic correlations between hardiness at these two stages were weak. This study confirms earlier results in Washington breeding populations and shows that coastal Douglas-fir families can be effectively ranked for fall cold hardiness by conducting artificial freeze tests on cut shoots in midfall (October) and scoring damage to stems and at least one other tissue.

Genetic variation of wood density components in young coastal Douglas-fir: implications for tree breeding

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1801-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Vargas-Hernandez ◽  
W. T. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Density Variation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Control Individual ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Efficiency Of Selection

The genetic control of wood density components (earlywood density, latewood density, and latewood proportion) and their relationships with overall density in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) were examined to assess the usefulness of this information in breeding for wood density. The genetic relationships of wood density with intraring density variation and bole volume growth were also investigated. Increment cores were taken at breast height from 15-year-old trees of 60 open-pollinated families. Averages across each core for overall wood density, its components, and intraring density variation were determined by using X-ray densitometry. Bole volume at age 15 for the same trees was derived from tree height and diameter at breast height measurements. Although wood density components varied significantly among families and were under moderate genetic control (individual-tree heritability (hi2) > 0.24), none had a higher heritability than overall density (hi2 = 0.59). Density components had strong genetic correlations with overall density (r ≥ 0.74) but were also strongly related among themselves (0.57 ≤ r ≤ 0.92). Thus, density components have limited value in improving the efficiency of selection for overall density. Overall density was positively correlated with intraring density variation (r = 0.72) and negatively correlated with bole volume (r = −0.52). Comparison of several selection indices incorporating wood density and one or more growth traits, however, showed that it is possible to obtain substantial gains in bole volume without loss in (or even with a modest increase in) wood density. By restricting the response in wood density, the change in intraring density variation can also be limited.

scholarly journals Corrigendum to: Consequences of genetic selection for environmental impact traits on economically important traits in dairy cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 1966
Author(s):  
Purna Kandel ◽  
Sylvie Vanderick ◽  
Marie-Laure Vanrobays ◽  
Hélène Soyeurt ◽  
Nicolas Gengler
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Natural Logarithm

Methane (CH4) emission is an important environmental trait in dairy cows. Breeding aiming to mitigate CH4 emissions require the estimation of genetic correlations with other economically important traits and the prediction of their selection response. In this study, test-day CH4 emissions were predicted from milk mid-infrared spectra of Holstein cows. Predicted CH4 emissions (PME) and log-transformed CH4 intensity (LMI) computed as the natural logarithm of PME divided by milk yield (MY). Genetic correlations of PME and LMI with traits used currently were approximated from correlations between estimated breeding values of sires. Values were for PME with MY 0.06, fat yield (FY) 0.09, protein yield (PY) 0.13, fertility 0.17; body condition score (BCS) –0.02; udder health (UDH) 0.22; and longevity 0.22. As expected by its definition, values were negative for LMI with production traits (MY –0.61; FY –0.15 and PY –0.40) and positive with fertility (0.36); BCS (0.20); UDH (0.08) and longevity (0.06). The genetic correlations of 33 type traits with PME ranged from –0.12 to 0.25 and for LMI ranged from –0.22 to 0.18. Without selecting PME and LMI (status quo) the relative genetic change through correlated responses of other traits were in PME by 2% and in LMI by –15%, but only due to the correlated response to MY. Results showed for PME that direct selection of this environmental trait would reduce milk carbon foot print but would also affect negatively fertility. Therefore, more profound changes in current indexes will be required than simply adding environmental traits as these traits also affect the expected progress of other traits.

scholarly journals Early Selection of Douglas-Fir across South Central Coastal Oregon, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Dean ◽  
R. W. Stonecypher
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Early Selection ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
South Central ◽  
Coos Bay ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Details are given of three first-generation progeny tests (CB1, CB2 and CB3) of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [MIRB.] FRANCO var. menziesii) planted in the Coos Bay region of south-central coastal Oregon in 1973. The three tests included 15 polymix families based on a 10-pollen mix, and 27 families openpollinated on the ortet. The present study gives heritabilities and additive genetic correlations for growth measured between two and 17 years after planting. Correlated responses are estimated for volume at 17 years from early selection for height and diameter. Between four and 17 years after planting the individual heritability (h2) of height of coastal Douglas-fir across the Coos Bay tests was quite stable between h2 = 0.18 and 0.22. The heritability of stem diameter age-forage was consistently much lower than for height. In the critical age range for early selection between five and 10 years the individual heritability of diameter ranged from h2 = 0.07 to 0.10. The additive genetic correlations involving volume-17 and height or diameter increased to high values of rA = 0.80 to 0.84 between eight to 10 years after planting. Before seven years the absolute values of juvenilemature correlations were much lower. The higher heritability of height made this trait the best criterion for early indirect selection to improve mature stem volume growth. Across these Coos Bay tests, early selection on stem height measured at 5-8 years after planting was estimated to produce almost 40% more gain per year in volume-17 compared with direct selection at 17 years on volume-17 itself. The recommendation for maximizing gain per year in mature volume of coastal Douglas-fir at Coos Bay is to select on height at 7-8 years when the mean height of trees in tests should be around 4.5 to 5.5 meters.

Heritability and phenotypic and genetic correlations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood quality traits

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1536-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas K. Ukrainetz ◽  
Kyu-Young Kang ◽  
Sally N. Aitken ◽  
Michael Stoehr ◽  
Shawn D. Mansfield
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Genetic Control ◽  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Glucose Content

Genetic control and relationships among coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) growth and wood quality traits were assessed by estimating heritability and phenotypic and genetic correlations using 600 trees representing 15 full-sib families sampled from four progeny test sites. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.23 to 0.30 for growth traits, 0.19 for fibre coarseness, from 0.21 to 0.54 for wood density, from 0.16 to 0.97 for cell wall carbohydrates, and 0.79 and 0.91 for lignin content at two sites, Squamish River and Gold River, respectively. Glucose content, indicative of cell wall cellulose composition, and lignin were shown to be under strong genetic control, whereas fibre coarseness was shown to be under weak genetic control. Phenotypic correlations revealed that larger trees generally have longer fibres with higher fibre coarseness, lower density, lower carbohydrate content, a greater proportion of cell wall lignin, and higher microfibril angle. Genetic correlations and correlated response to selection suggest that breeding for height growth would result in a reduction in wood quality, whereas breeding for improved earlywood density in Douglas-fir would result in negligible reductions in volume and appears to be an ideal target for selecting for improved wood quality (density) while maintaining growth in the sample population.

scholarly journals Genetic Control of Growth Traits in Shortleaf Pine in Missouri

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 200-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Gwaze ◽  
Ross Melick ◽  
Charly Studyvin ◽  
Mark Coggeshall
Keyword(s):  
Growth Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Pinus Echinata ◽  
Shortleaf Pine ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
High Heritability ◽  
Heritability Estimates

Abstract Genetic parameters for height (HT), diameter (diameter at breast height [dbh]), and volume for a shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) population in Missouri were estimated from a single progeny test comprising 44 half-sibling families assessed at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 17 years. Individual tree heritability estimates for growth traits at age 10 years and younger were high (0.30–0.43), and those at age 17 years were low (0.11–0.24). Heritability estimates for dbh were lower than those for HT. Family mean heritability estimates were moderate to high (0.32–0.66). Genetic correlations were higher than their phenotypic counterparts for all growth traits. Age-age genetic correlations for growth traits were moderate to high (0.68–0.98), indicating opportunity for early selection. Genetic correlations between different growth traits were high (0.81–1.00). Indirect selection on age 5- or 7-year HTs may be expected to produce over 25% more volume at 17 years compared with direct selection for volume at age 17 years. Efficiencies of selection suggest that early HT is a better selection criterion for volume at older ages than dbh because of the high heritability at young ages and strong juvenile-mature genetic correlations. Genetic gain in an unrogued seed orchard was predicted to be 6.7 and 27.2% for 10- and 17-year volume, respectively. These results suggest that growth traits in shortleaf pine in Missouri have high genetic variation, and genetic improvement was effective. South. J. Appl. For. 29(4):200–204.

Growth, phenology, and cold hardiness of 32 Douglas-fir full-sib families

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1821-1834 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Hawkins ◽  
M. Stoehr
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Final Height ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Freezing Damage ◽  
Family Selection ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Sib Families

Thirty-two full-sib families of coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) with a range of predicted breeding values were monitored for growth rate, phenology, and cold hardiness over 2 years on two sites to investigate if other traits are being selected when family selection is based on height. Significant differences among families existed in most phenological, growth, and cold-hardiness traits. On average, taller families burst bud later but did not have significantly different growth rates or length of growing period than other families. We found no significant correlations between family date of bud burst and cold hardiness in late spring or between duration of shoot growth or height and autumn freezing damage. Family differences in freezing tolerance were greatest in September and October. In these months, family current-year leaf nitrogen was positively correlated with cold hardiness. Families that were most hardy in the autumn were not the most hardy families in spring. We conclude that, for the studied breeding series, selection based on height does not have a significant impact on cold hardiness. We found no consistent relationships between phenological, growth, or cold-hardiness parameters and final height that could explain family ranking by height. Relationships between grandparent elevation and dates of bud burst and cold hardiness were observed.

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