Acoustic Wave Velocity as a Selection Trait in Eucalyptus nitens

Abstract

Previous studies in Eucalyptus nitens have revealed favourable genetic correlations exist between acoustic wave velocity (AWV) in standing trees and modulus of elasticity (MOE), which can determine the suitability of trees for structural timber and/or engineered wood products. This study investigates the strength and stability of genetic variation in standing tree AWV across a range of environments in Tasmania, where there are a number of large plantation estates and breeding trials. Trees under study were from open-pollinated progeny trials established in 1993. Across sites, for standing tree AWV the ranking of E. nitens races did not change and within-race additive genetic correlations were strong (0.61 to 0.99). Heritabilities (0.16 to 0.74) and coefficients of additive genetic variation (2.6 to 4.8) were moderate for this trait. Correlations between standing tree AWV and both basic density and diameter at breast height (DBH) were favourable. Results indicate that there is potential to improve MOE in E. nitens through the exploitation of genetic variation in AWV among and within races, the expression of genetic variation in AWV is relatively stable across different growing environments, and past selection for basic density and growth in pulpwood breeding programs is unlikely to have adversely affected MOE. OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 745

Independent lines of evidence of a genetic relationship between acoustic wave velocity and kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus globulus

“…The additive genetic correlation between AWV and diameter (0.58) was within the range of estimates for E. nitens reported by Blackburn et al (2014;0.18, 0.20, 0.51 and 0.71), Furthermore, the positive additive genetic correlations of diameter with cellulose content (0.48) and pulp yield (0.38) were favourable and in keeping with recent studies by Stackpole et al (2010;0.52 between diameter and pulp yield), Costa e Silva et al (2009); 0.12 between diameter and pulp yield across multiple trials) and Apiolaza et al (2005;0.61 between diameter and cellulose content). However, these positive correlations were not significantly different from zero, except in the case of diameter with cellulose content in the current study.…”

“…Selection based on AWV is likely to result in positive indirect responses in other wood properties, including MOE and basic density, as suggested by genetic correlation estimates from E. nitens (Blackburn et al 2012;Blackburn et al 2010;Blackburn et al 2014). Similarly, in addition to pulp yield, QTL for AWV were co-located with numerous growth and other wood property traits within and among families, consistent with strong correlations among chemical wood properties in E. globulus (e.g.…”

“…Positive genetic correlations among acoustic wave velocity (AWV), pulp yield and basic density have been identified in E. nitens (Blackburn et al 2012), a species closely related to E. globulus, suggesting that AWV may represent a cheaper alternative to NIR or be used as a means of identifying candidates for NIR in that species (Blackburn et al 2014;Raymond et al 2010). Acoustic velocity assessment can be undertaken directly using a microsecond timing device or with a resonance tool (refer to Raymond et al 2010).…”

Heritability of growth strain in Eucalyptus bosistoana: a Bayesian approach with left-censored data§

“…Density, diameter at age 2 (growth), volumetric shrinkage, acoustic velocity and stiffness all have significantly large heritability, suggesting that breeding for these traits is achievable. The heritabilities are similar to those reported for other eucalypt species (Hung et al 2014;Hein et al 2012;Blackburn et al 2010;Blackburn et al 2014;Hamilton et al 2008). Wood processors pay premiums for stable and stiff timber, while forest growers often prefer to have fastgrowing trees as to shorten rotation lengths increasing profitability.…”

Variation in Rotary Veneer Recovery from Australian Plantation Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens

“…The two species examined in these studies have been previously shown to be genetically stable in different environments (Callister et al 2011;Blackburn et al 2014). Strong race stability and inter-site additive genetic correlations for additive effects in the traits examined were also high, indicating a lack of genotype x environmental interaction at the family level.…”