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Efficiency of early selection for rotation-aged wood quality traits in radiata pine

Efficacité d’une sélection précoce pour les propriétés du bois adulte chez le pin radiata

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 1–9 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

A total of 360 bark-to-bark-through-pith wood strips were sampled at breast height from 180 trees in 30 open-pollinated families from two rotation-aged genetic trials to study inheritance, age-age genetic correlation, and early selection efficiency for wood quality traits in radiata pine. Wood strips were evaluated by SilviScan® and annual pattern and genetic parameters for growth, wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), and stiffness (modulus of elasticity: MOE) for early to rotation ages were estimated. Annual ring growth was the largest between ages 2–5 years from pith, and decreased linearly to ages 9–10. Annual growth was similar and consistent at later ages. Wood density was the lowest near the pith, increased steadily to age 11–15 years, then was relatively stable after these ages. MFA was highest (35°) near the pith and reduced to about 10° at age 10–15 years. MFA was almost unchanged at later ages. MOE increased from about 2.5 GPa near the pith to about 20 GPa at ages 11–15 years. MOE was relatively unchanged at later ages. Wood density and MOE were inversely related to MFA. Heritability increased from zero near the pith and stabilised at ages 4 or 5 for all four growth and wood quality traits (DBH, density, MFA and MOE). Across age classes, heritability was the highest for area-weighted density and MFA, lowest for DBH, and intermediate for MOE. Age-age genetic correlations were high for the four traits studied. The genetic correlation reached 0.8 after age 7 for most traits. Early selection for density, MFA and MOE were very effective. Selection at age 7–8 has similar effectiveness as selection conducted at rotation age for MFA and MOE and at least 80% effective for wood density.

Résumé

Cette étude a pour objectif d’estimer les paramètres génétiques (héritabilités et corrélations juvéniles-adultes) pour différentes propriétés du bois chez le pin radiata et d’évaluer l’efficacité d’une sélection précoce. Trois cent soixante échantillons diamétraux de bois ont été prélevés dans deux dispositifs génétiques adultes sur trente familles de pin radiata issues de pollinisation libre, puis analysés avec le SilviScan®. Les caractéristiques annuelles de la croissance, de la densité du bois, de l’angle des microfibrilles (MFA) et de la rigidité (module d’élasticité : MOE) ont été analysées et les paramètres génétiques de ces caractères ont été estimés du stade juvénile à l’âge de la révolution. La croissance radiale est la plus forte entre 2 et 5 ans (depuis la moelle) puis décroît linéairement jusqu’à neuf—dix ans et se stabilise ensuite. La densité du bois est la plus faible près de la moelle; elle augmente fortement jusqu’à 11–15 ans puis se stabilise. MFA est le plus élevé (35°) près de la moelle; il diminue ensuite pour atteindre environ 10° vers 10–15 ans. MFA ne varie pratiquement plus au-delà de cet âge. MOE passe de 2.5 GPa près de la moelle à environ 20 GPa à 11–15 ans. Il se stabilise ensuite. L’évolution de la densité du bois et de MOE au cours du temps est donc inverse de celle de MFA. L’héritabilité, égale à 0 près du cœur, augmente ensuite et se stabilise vers 4–5 ans pour tous les caractères de croissance et les propriétés du bois (diamètre, densité, MFA, MOE). Quel que soit l’âge, l’héritabilité est la plus élevée pour la densité et MFA, la plus faible pour le diamètre et intermédiaire pour MOE. Les corrélations âge-âge sont fortes pour tous les caractères étudiés. Les corrélations génétiques atteignent 0.8 après 7 ans pour la plupart des caractères. Une sélection précoce pour la densité, MFA et MOE apparaît très efficace : en effet, une sélection vers 7–8 ans a la même efficacité qu’une sélection réalisée à la révolution pour MFA et MOE et cette efficacité est d’au moins 80 % pour la densité du bois.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ensis, CSIRO, PO Box E4008, 2604, Kingston, ACT, Australia

    Harry X. Wu & Milo Ivković

  2. Ensis, CSIRO, Private Bag 10, 3169, Clayton South, VIC, Australia

    Junli L. Yang

  3. Southern Tree Breeding Association Inc, PO Box 1811, 5290, Mount Gambier, SA, Australia

    Mike B. Powell & Tony A. McRae

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  1. Harry X. Wu
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Correspondence to Harry X. Wu.

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Wu, H.X., Powell, M.B., Yang, J.L. et al. Efficiency of early selection for rotation-aged wood quality traits in radiata pine. Ann. For. Sci. 64, 1–9 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2006082

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Annals of Forest Science

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