Genetic variation in veneer quality and its correlation to growth in white spruce

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Y Zhang ◽  
Qibin Yu ◽  
Jean Beaulieu

This study investigated the genetic variation in veneer quality of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and its correlation with tree growth and wood density. A total of 270 sample trees from 35 families were harvested from 36-year-old provenance-progeny trials at two sites through a thinning operation. A 36-cm long bolt was collected from each sample tree at an 8-foot (or 2.45 m) height for this veneer quality study. The results indicate that conversion of fast-grown white spruce into veneer and plywood may present some problems. Low wood density, numerous knots, and possibly a high proportion of juvenile wood appear to be major factors contributing to low veneer stress grading, resulting in a production of low-quality veneer. This study also showed that the environmental factors at the two sites played an important role in determining veneer quality and tree radial growth. The narrow-sense heritability for veneer density, veneer modulus of elasticity, and veneer roughness were 0.62, 0.13, and 0.14, respectively. The results revealed considerable phenotypic variation and relatively high additive genetic variation in the veneer modulus of elasticity. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between ring width and veneer density or veneer modulus of elasticity were negative. A positive phenotypic and genetic correlation was found between veneer density and veneer modulus of elasticity. This suggests that selection for tree volume growth in white spruce would lead to a decrease in wood density and veneer stiffness.

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1470-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Gaspar ◽  
José Luís Louzada ◽  
Maria Emília Silva ◽  
Alexandre Aguiar ◽  
Maria Helena Almeida

This study contributes to the Pinus pinaster Ait. breeding programme, which is reaching the third generation by adding information on wood quality of 46 open-pollinated families from a progeny trial located in Leiria, Portugal, that originated from seed collected in a clonal seed orchard. A total of 552 seventeen-year-old trees were sampled at 2 m height. Trends were studied from the pith outward in variance components and narrow-sense heritability (h2) of wood density components and ring-width characteristics as well as genetic correlations between cambial ages. Mean ring density (RD), minimum density (MND), maximum density (MXD), earlywood density (EWD), latewood density (LWD), earlywood width, latewood width, ring width, latewood percentage, and heterogeneity index were determined using X-ray densitometry procedures. RD had higher genetic control (h2 = 0.63), and heritability values of earlywood components (h2MND = 0.54, h2EWD = 0.60) exceeded those of latewood components (h2MXD = 0.34, h2LWD = 0.26). Heritabilities increased with ring number from pith for almost all wood density components, and there were high age–age genetic correlations for wood density traits (rg > 0.98).


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2116-2127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milosh Ivkovich ◽  
Gene Namkoong ◽  
Mathew Koshy

Quantitative genetic variation in growth, latewood percentage, and wood density was investigated for British Columbia's interior spruce (the common name for white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss; Engelmann spruce, Picea engelmanni Parry ex Engelm.; and their hybrids). The study included 160 half-sib families from the East Kootenay and Prince George regions. At the time of sampling, progeny tests for those two regions were 20 and 22 years old, respectively. Univariate and multivariate restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimates of genetic parameters were obtained. Estimates of genetic variances and heritabilities differed greatly across planting sites for the examined traits, especially after transplantation between the regions. Significant negative genetic correlation between overall growth and wood density was found for the East Kootenay progenies, while negative but nonsignificant genetic correlation between these traits was found for the Prince George progenies. Generally, there was no significant decrease in heritability for ring width and latewood percentage in successive growth rings. A general age trend for genetic correlation between those traits was not apparent, except that the correlation remained negative during the observed period. Our results show that it is not possible to select certain families as superior based on 1-year results because of the family by growing season interactions. Nevertheless, genetic age–age correlations for cumulative increments were high, having a decreasing trend with increasing difference in age.


2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1886-1893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Li ◽  
Dudley A. Huber ◽  
Gregory L. Powell ◽  
Timothy L. White ◽  
Gary F. Peter

The importance of integrating measures of juvenile corewood mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity in particular, with growth and disease resistance in tree improvement programs has increased. We investigated the utility of in-tree velocity stiffness measurements to estimate the genetic control of corewood stiffness and to select for trees with superior growth and stiffness in a progeny trial of 139 families of slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. grown on six sites. Narrow-sense heritability estimates across all six sites for in-tree acoustic velocity stiffness at 8 years (0.42) were higher than observed for height (0.36) and diameter at breast height (DBH) (0.28) at 5 years. The overall type B genetic correlation across sites for velocity stiffness was 0.68, comparable to those found for DBH and volume growth, indicating that family rankings were moderately repeatable across all sites for these traits. No significant genetic correlations were observed between velocity stiffness, DBH, and volume growth. In contrast, a significant, but small, favorable genetic correlation was found between height and velocity stiffness. Twenty percent of the families had positive breeding values for both velocity stiffness and growth. The low cost, high heritability and nearly independent segregation of the genes involved with in-tree velocity stiffness and growth traits indicate that acoustic methods can be integrated into tree improvement programs to breed for improved corewood stiffness along with growth in slash pine.


2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhui Weng ◽  
Kathy Tosh ◽  
Yill Sung Park ◽  
Michele S. Fullarton

Abstract Polycross-pollinated white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) families were evaluated in field and retrospective nursery tests in 1989, 1991, and 1992, respectively. Height growth was measured at age 10 for the field tests and at ages 1 to 6 for the retrospective nursery tests. Except for a few cases, the family mean correlations between nursery and field heights were significant for the 1989 and 1992 series, and their corresponding genetic correlations ranged from low to medium (from 0.37 to 0.74). Because of heavy noncrop competition, height growth in the 1991 nursery series showed consistently lower heritabilities and correlations with field performance compared with those of the other two series. Early nursery selection by theoretical prediction was generally efficient for the 1989 and 1992 series. Rank classification analysis indicated that application of early nursery selection should be used with caution for identifying elite families but could be used to cull inferior families or clones, apply multiple-stage selection, or perform positive assortative mating.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Patrick Juday ◽  
Claire Alix

This paper calibrates climate controls over radial growth of floodplain white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and examines whether growth in these populations responds similarly to climate as upland trees in Interior Alaska. Floodplain white spruce trees hold previously unrecognized potential for long-term climate reconstruction because they are the source of driftwood that becomes frozen in coastal deposits, where archeological timbers and beach logs represent well-preserved datable material. We compared ring width chronologies for 135 trees in six stands on the Yukon Flats and Tanana River with temperature and precipitation at Fairbanks from 1912–2001. Our sample contains a stable common signal representing a strong negative relationship between summer temperature and tree growth. We developed a floodplain temperature index (FPTI), which explains half of the variability of the composite chronology, and a supplemental precipitation index (SPI) based on correlation of monthly precipitation with the residual of the temperature-based prediction of growth. We then combined FPTI and SPI into a climate favorability index (CFI) in which above-normal precipitation partially compensates for temperature-induced drought reduction of growth and vice versa. CFI and growth have been particularly low since 1969. Our results provide a basis for building longer chronologies based on archeological wood and for projecting future growth.


2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Hamilton ◽  
P. A. Tilyard ◽  
D. R. Williams ◽  
R. E. Vaillancourt ◽  
T. J. Wardlaw ◽  
...  

Eucalyptus globulus is one of the best known examples of a heteroblastic plant. It exhibits a dramatic phase change from distinctive juvenile to adult leaves, but the timing of this transition varies markedly. We examined the genetic variation in the timing of heteroblastic transition using five large open-pollinated progeny trials established in north-western Tasmania. We used univariate and multi-variate mixed models to analyse data on the presence/absence of adult or intermediate foliage at age 2 years from a total of 14 860 trees across five trials, as well as height to heteroblastic phase change from one trial. Up to 566 families and 15 geographic subraces of E. globulus were represented in the trials. The timing of the heteroblastic transition was genetically variable and under strong genetic control at the subrace and within-subrace level, with single-trial narrow-sense heritability estimates for the binary trait averaging 0.50 (range 0.44–0.65). The degree of quantitative trait differentiation in the timing of heteroblastic transition among subraces, as measured by QST, exceeded the published level of neutral molecular marker (FST) differentiation in all cases, arguing that diversifying selection has contributed to shaping broad-scale patterns of genetic differentiation. Most inter-trial genetic correlations were close to one at the subrace and additive genetic levels, indicating that the genetic variation in this important developmental change is expressed in a stable manner and that genotype-by-environment interaction is minimal across the environments studied.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 2372-2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
R. D. Burdon ◽  
G. T. Stovold ◽  
L. D. Gea

Clonal trials of Pinus radiata D. Don (radiata pine), representing two populations (or breeds), one selected for growth and form (GF) and the other selected for high wood density as well as growth and form (HD), were replicated on two low-altitude New Zealand sites: Tarawera (pumice soil, 38°08′S) and Woodhill (coastal dune, 36°42′S). The GF material comprised 33 pair-crosses (19 parents) × 10 clones, and the HD material comprised 19 single-pair crosses (35 parents) × 10 clones, with six ramets per clone per site. Diameter (DBH), two tree-form variables, and needle retention (NRA) were assessed 8 years after planting, and wood density (DEN), acoustic velocity, and collapse were assessed 9 years after planting. The site differences were generally expressed more strongly in the GF population. Estimated genetic parameters were mostly similar for the two breeds, except that genotypic correlation between DBH and DEN was apparently zero in the HD population. Estimated broad-sense heritabilities (H2) were generally markedly higher than narrow-sense heritability estimates (h2), except with DEN. Estimated between-site type-B clonal genotypic correlations were generally high (>0.8) for wood properties. Overall, DBH showed adverse genetic correlations with wood properties. The Elite/Breed strategy appeared to be helpful in combating adverse genetic correlations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 993-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
E C Cole ◽  
M Newton ◽  
A Youngblood

The current spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) epidemic in interior Alaska is leaving large expanses of dead spruce with little spruce regeneration. Many of these areas are habitat for moose (Alces alces). To establish spruce regeneration and improve browse production for moose, paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh), willow (Salix spp.), and three stocktypes (plug+1 bareroot, and 1+0 plugs from two nurseries) of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) were planted in freshly cutover areas on Fort Richardson, near Anchorage. Four vegetation-management treatments were compared: broadcast site preparation with herbicides, banded site preparation with herbicides, mechanical scarification, and untreated control. Spruce seedlings had the greatest growth in the broadcast site preparation treatment (p < 0.01). Stocktype was the most important factor in spruce growth, with bareroot transplant seedlings being the tallest and largest 5 years after planting (p < 0.001). In the first 3 years, relative stem volume growth was greater for plug seedlings than for bareroot seedlings (p < 0.001). By year 4, relative growth rates were similar among all stocktypes. Treatment effects for paper birch and willow were confounded by moose browsing. Results indicate spruce can be regenerated and moose browse enhanced simultaneously in forests in interior Alaska.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Rebetzke ◽  
R. A. Richards

Grain yield potential of Australian wheat crops is often limited because of inadequate water for crop growth and grain filling. Greater early vigour, defined here as the amount of leaf area produced early in the season, should improve the water-use efficiency and yield of wheat crops grown in Mediterranean-type climates such as occurs in southern Australia. In order to maximise selection efficiency for early vigour in breeding programs, the magnitude and form of genetic variation for early vigour and its components was investigated for 2 contrasting wheat populations. The first population comprised 28 Australian and overseas wheat varieties evaluated in a serial sowing study in Canberra. The second population contained 50 random F 2:4 and F 2:6 families derived from a convergent cross of elite CIMMYT wheat lines evaluated in Canberra, and in the field at Condobolin, New South Wales. For the first population, environmental effects on leaf breadth and length, and to a lesser extent, phyllochron interval, produced significant (P < 0.05) changes in leaf area. Large and significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed among Australian and overseas wheats for early vigour and its components. Australian varieties were among the least vigorous of the lines tested, with a number of overseas varieties producing about 75% greater leaf area than representative Australian wheats. Increased leaf area was genetically correlated with increases in leaf breadth and length, and a longer phyllochron interval. Significant (P < 0.05) genotype ´ environment interaction reduced broad-sense heritability (%) for early vigour (H ± s.e., 87 ± 26) compared with leaf breadth (96 ± 25) and length (97 ± 27). Narrow-sense heritability (%) in the second population was small for leaf area (h2 ± s.e., 30 ± 6) and plant biomass (35 ± 7), but high for leaf breadth (76 ± 14) and length (67 ± 16). Genetic correlations were strong and positive for leaf area with plant biomass, leaf breadth and length, specific leaf area and coleoptile tiller frequency, whereas faster leaf and primary tiller production were negatively correlated with leaf area. The high heritability for leaf breadth coupled with its strong genetic correlation with leaf area (rg = 0.56-0.57) indicated that selection for leaf breadth should produce genetic gain in leaf area similar to selection for leaf area per se. However, the ease with which leaf breadth can be measured indicates that selection for this character either by itself, or in combination with coleoptile tiller production, should provide a rapid and non-destructive screening for early vigour in segregating wheat populations. The availability of genetic variation for early vigour and correlated traits should enable direct or indirect selection for greater leaf area in segregating wheat populations.


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