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Genetic variation and inheritance of wood density in black spruce (Picea mariana) and its relationship with growth: implications for tree breeding

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Based on 15-year-old spruce (Picea mariana) trees of 40 open-pollinated families grown in New Brunswick, this study examined the genetic variation and inheritance of wood density, and its relationship with growth trait (tree diameter, tree height and bole volume). Implications of these genetic parameters for wood quality improvement were discussed. Although wood density, earlywood density and latewood density show smaller phenotypic variation than growth traits, a larger part of the variation in these traits is due to families. These traits are under strong genetic control (h 2i ranges from 0.60 to 0.86, and h 2f ranges from 0.56 to 0.68). Wood density has a strong genetic correlation with earlywood density and latewood density (+0.72 and -0.73, respectively), but earlywood density and latewood density are strongly related to each other. As a result, wood density components have little value in improving the efficiency of selection for overall wood density. Overall wood density shows negative genetic correlations with growth traits (ranging from -0.34 to -0.41). To achieve optimal genetic gains, therefore, index selection for multiple traits is essential. This study reveals that selection for dry mass weight would result in remarkably higher genetic gain in gross fibre yield than selection for bole volume alone (+14.15% and +9.28%, respectively). Furthermore, selection for dry mass weight would result in less reduction in wood density, and while holding wood density at zero change, it is still possible to obtain huge genetic gain in gross fibre yield.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Resource Assessment and Utilization, Forintek Canada Corp., 319 rue Franquet, GIP 4R4, Sainte-Foy, PQ, Canada

    S. Y. Zhang (Research Scientist)

  2. Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, E3B6C2, Fredericton, N.B., Canada

    E. K. Morgenstern (Professor)

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  1. S. Y. Zhang
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  2. E. K. Morgenstern
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Additional information

We wish to thank G. Chauret for their assistance in X-ray densitometric measurements undertaken at Forintek's Eastern Division in Ottawa. Thanks are also due to Dr. Y. S. Park for his helpful advice and comments on a previous draft of the manuscript, and to T. Keenam, V. Steel, R. Plourde, and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance. R. LeBlanc and Dr. G. Caron participated in the planning of the study and assisted with logistics. Special thanks are extended to D. Simpson of the New Brunswick Tree Improvement Council for his constant interest, full support and helpful advice throughout this study

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Zhang, S.Y., Morgenstern, E.K. Genetic variation and inheritance of wood density in black spruce (Picea mariana) and its relationship with growth: implications for tree breeding. Wood Sci.Technol. 30, 63–75 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195269

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