Growth Performance and Heritability Estimation of Acacia crassicarpa in a Progeny Trial in eastern Thailand

Abstract

Growth performance and heritability were studied in a progeny trial of Acacia crassicarpa in Chacheongsao province, eastern Thailand in order to provide information on suitable families for seed improvement and production. A randomized complete block design (originally 8 blocks, 80 family plots/ block, 4 trees/plot) of the best 80 half-sib families selected from 7 provenances was thinned at ages 2.5, 4 and 5 years based on growth and tree form and so that there was one tree/ plot remained at the stage of present study. All remaining trees were measured for diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (H), individual volume (VOL) and stem form (straightness and forked height) at ages 12, 12.5, 13 and 13.5 years, respectively. Narrow sense heritability (h 2 ) based on family was estimated for each characteristic. Analysis of variance showed that there were highly significant differences among families at the four ages for DBH, H and VOL. Stem straightness and forked height were not significantly different among families. The heritability of DBH was increased as trees were mature (h 2 = 0.236, 0.285, 0.288, and 0.291) but those of H and VOL were a little decreased. The heritability of stem straightness was very low (0.013) and that of forked height was also low (0.138). The results implied that the tree breeding of A. crassicarpa could improve DBH, H and VOL considerably. Further selection testing is required to increase the heritability of stem form. The measured data would be useful for tree improvement and seed orchard establishment of Acacia crassicarpa.