Estimates of genetic parameters for growth and wood properties in Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. to support tree breeding in Vietnam

Abstract

& Key message Eucalyptus pellita demonstrated good growth and wood quality traits in this study, with young plantation grown timber being suitable for both solid and pulp wood products. All traits examined were under moderate levels of genetic control with little genotype by environment interaction when grown on two contrasting sites in Vietnam. & Context Eucalyptus pellita currently has a significant role in reforestation in the tropics. Research to support expanded of use of this species is needed: particularly, research to better understand the genetic control of key traits will facilitate the development of genetically improved planting stock. & Aims This study aimed to provide estimates of the heritability of diameter at breast height over bark, wood basic density, Kraft pulp yield, modulus of elasticity and microfibril angle, and the genetic correlations among these traits, and understand the importance of genotype by environment interactions in Vietnam. & Methods Data for diameter and wood properties were collected from two 10-year-old, open-pollinated progeny trials of Handling Editor: Jean-Michel Leban Contributions by co-authors Tran Duy Hung: conception and design of project (50 %), statistical analysis (80 %), wrote the paper (60 %). Jeremy Brawner, Mark Dieters: conception and design of project (50 %), statistical analysis (20 %), wrote and edited paper (20 %).

Genetic gain estimated by different selection criteria in guava progenies

“…The analysis of the heritability coefficients within families showed that they were much lower than the heritability based on a family average. Other studies have found similar results in clones of Eucalyptus L'Hér (Santos et al 2015) and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell (Hung et al 2015), which agrees with this work, since both species are perennial. This result allows inferring that the selection based on the average of the families can be more efficient than within families.…”

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.…”

Genetic Improvement of Wood Properties in Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon for Sawn Timber Production in Malawi

“…Wood density is of particular importance because it can have strong impact on wood stiffness and strength [36]. The present study found that the genetic correlations between wood density and mechanical properties (MoE and MoR) were favourable.…”

“…The genetic correlation between density and stiffness was favourable in the present study, suggesting that the genetic correlation between MFA and stiffness is also likely to be favourable. Thus, wood with high stiffness has high density and small MFA [36]. However, further research may be required to confirm the correlation between MFA and stiffness.…”