Journal Article

Genetic analysis of early field growth of loblolly pine clones and seedlings from the same full-sib families

Baltunis, B.S, Huber, D.A, White, T.L, Goldfarb, B, Stelzer, H.E

2007

Overview

Field trials established with clones and seedlings from the same families provide an opportunity for comparing full-sib family performance across propagule types. More than 1200 different clones together with over 14 000 zygotic seedlings from the same 61 full-sib families of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were tested on multiple sites across Florida and Georgia. The genetic variance associated with several early growth traits partitioned differently depending on propagule type. Most of the genetic variance associated with growth in the clonal population was additive, while the estimate of dominance in the seedling population was greater than estimates of dominance in the clonal population, based on single-site analyses. Apparently, a lack of randomization of the seedlings prior to field establishment caused full-sib families to appear more different, inflating estimates of dominance genetic variance. Parental and full-sib family ranks were stable regardless of propagule type as indicated by type B genetic correlations. In the clonal population, little genotype x environment interaction was observed across sites at the parental, family, and clonal levels for all traits. The high genetic correlations between propagule types provide further assurance that selections made through traditional tree-improvement activities for recurrent selection for general combining ability in seedling trials can also be used successfully for breeding families to test in a clonal forestry program.

• Publisher: NRC Research Press,National Research Council of Canada,Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subject: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions / Biological and medical sciences / Cattle / Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids / clones / Coastal plains / Evergreen trees / field experimentation / Florida / forest genetics / forest trees / Forestry / Forests / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / genetic correlation / Genetic variance / genetic variation / Genetics / Genetics and breeding of economic plants / Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution / Genotype & phenotype / genotype-environment interaction / Georgia / Growth / growth traits / heritability / Loblolly-pine / Pine trees / Pinus taeda / Plant population genetics / Plants / progeny testing / propagation materials / Reproduction / Reproduction, Asexual / Seedlings / Seeds / Thallophyta, bryophyta / tree growth / Trees / Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims / Vegetals / Yield, quality, earliness, varia