Genetic correlations between pulpwood and solidwood selection and objective traits in Eucalyptus globulus

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Abstract

• If selective breeding is to be successful, significant genetic variation must be present in the traits targeted for improvement (i.e. ‘objective traits’). • This study aimed to quantify genetic variation in Eucalyptus globulus pulpwood and sawn-timber objective traits (rotation-age whole-tree volume, survival, whole-tree basic density, sawn-board Janka hardness and sawn-board internal checking) and estimate additive genetic correlations between these and inexpensively-assessed ‘selection traits’. • Significant genetic variation was identified in all objective traits at the subrace and/or family within subrace level. • Selection-age diameter at breast height (1.3 m, DBH) was strongly genetically correlated with rotation-age volume (0.78) and survival (0.82). Subrace and additive genetic correlations of selection-age Pilodyn penetration with rotation-age 12-x-12-mm-sample basic density (-0.70 and -0.75 respectively) and whole-tree basic density (-0.83 and -0.91 respectively) were also strong. • No significant subrace or additive genetic correlation between wood-sample gross shrinkage and sawn-board internal checking was detected. However, subrace and additive genetic correlations of sawn-board Janka hardness with Pilodyn penetration (-0.75 and -0.58 respectively) and sample gross shrinkage (-0.77 and -0.73 respectively) were significantly different from zero. • These findings suggest that genetic improvement of the examined objective traits is possible through selective breeding, although none of the assessed selection traits were strongly correlated with internal checking.

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• Genetic correlations between pulpwood and solidwood selection and objective traits in Eucalyptus globulus. (deposited 27 Jan 2010 13:52)
  • Genetic correlations between pulpwood and solidwood selection and objective traits in Eucalyptus globulus. (deposited 12 Jul 2010 16:32) [Currently Displayed]