Heritabilities and additive genetic coefficients of variation in forest trees

Abstract

Estimates of individual-tree narrow-sense heritability and additive genetic coefficient of variation of seven traits of forest trees were compiled from 67 published papers. Distributions of the values for each trait were characterized and compared by calculating medians and running Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Generalizations are possible about at least some of the traits examined. Heritability of wood specific gravity was almost always above 0.3 (median 0.48). Heritabilities for other traits tended to be low: medians ranged from 0.185 to 0.26, and individual values generally ranged from 0.1 to 0.4. Evidence that heritabilities of form traits tend to be higher than those of growth traits was weak. The analysis of additive genetic coefficients of variation suggested that specific gravity tends to have lower values than other traits (median 5.1%), while height and diameter (medians 8.5 and 8.6%, respectively) had lower values than straightness (median 11.65%). Individual-tree volume showed the highest levels of additive genetic coefficient of variation (median 20.3%). The levels of additive genetic variation and heritabilities suggest that reasonable levels of genetic gain can be achieved by screening relatively low numbers of trees.

Age trends in genotypic variation of wood density and its intra-ring components in young poplar hybrid crosses

“…CV G for wood density was rather low. However, its values were similar to those found in other studies for height growth [5]. In the present study, the CV G for wood density of cumulated rings was rather stable over the 10-year period of the study at almost all sites.…”

Cellulose content as a selection trait in breeding for kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus urophylla

“…Barnes et al (1992) reported that heritability estimates are often inflated by selective thinning if there are dominance effects present. Wood quality traits are usually under strong additive genetic control (Cornelius, 1994;Raymond, 2002) while dominance effects can be significant in the genetic control of growth traits in eucalypts (Bouvet et al, 2009). Therefore, selective thinning for growth should have had little effect on heritability of wood density and cellulose content.…”

Genetic variation of the pilodyn-girth relationship in Norway spruce (Picea abies L [Karst])

“…This variation is used in forest tree breeding programs to select and create new genotypes (Kremer, 1986;Cornelius, 1994 (Cown, 1981) and in forest tree breeding programs (Villeneuve et al, 1987;Chantre et al, 1992;Adams et al, 1993 (Hoffmeyer, 1978(Hoffmeyer, , 1979Cown, 1981 …”