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Chemical properties of wood are under stronger genetic control than growth traits in Populus tomentosa Carr.

  • Original Paper
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Abstract

• Context

The genetic development of some wood quality characteristics in early stage is particularly attractive since these properties are generally inherited. A clear understanding of the genetic control of chemical properties of wood (extractives, holocellulose, and lignin content) and growth traits (tree height, diameter at breast height, and stem volume) of corewood is a prerequisite for breeding for higher wood quality in triploid hybrid clones of Populus tomentosa.

• Aims

The experiments aimed at unraveling genetic effect and clone × site interactions on chemical properties of wood and growth traits of corewood derived from triploid hybrid clones of P. tomentosa.

• Methods

Four 5-year-old clonal trials established in northern China were used to determine the clonal variations and clone × site interactions of chemical properties of wood and growth traits. Two hundred sixteen trees from nine clones were sampled in the four sites.

• Results

Site had a highly significant (P < 0.001) effect on extractives and tree growth and a moderate effect on lignin and holocellulose. Clonal effects were also significant (P < 0.05) for all studied traits. Clone × site interactions were significant for all studied traits except for holocellulose. No significant estimated correlations between chemical properties of wood and growth traits were observed. However, a weak and negative estimated correlation between lignin and growth traits existed. This suggests that selection for growth traits might lead to a minor reduction in lignin in triploid breeding of P. tomentosa.

• Conclusions

Our results revealed that chemical properties of wood were under stronger genetic control than growth traits in triploid hybrid clones of P. tomentosa. Therefore, breeding programs might be able to improve these chemical properties of wood and growth traits in these hybrids.

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Acknowledgments

This study was mainly supported by the 12th National Key Technology R&D Program (NO. 2012BAD01B0302) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31370659). The authors would like to thank Dr. Jicheng Pei from Tianjin University of Science & Technology for his assistance with wood chemical properties measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, No.35, Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Pingdong Zhang, Feng Wu & Xiangyang Kang

Authors
  1. Pingdong Zhang
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  2. Feng Wu
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  3. Xiangyang Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pingdong Zhang.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Bruno Fady

Contribution of the co-authors

Pingdong Zhang was responsible for planning and building the clonal trails, collecting wood discs sample and tree growth measurements, generating the phenotypic data set, analyzing the results, and writing the paper. Feng Wu was responsible for collecting wood discs sample and wood chemical properties measurements. Xiangyang Kang was responsible for planning and guiding this research.

Key message

The genetic development of wood properties of corewood is attractive. Two hundred sixteen trees from nine triploid clones were sampled at four clonal trials. The tests and genetic analyses revealed that chemical properties of wood were under stronger genetic control than growth traits.

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Zhang, P., Wu, F. & Kang, X. Chemical properties of wood are under stronger genetic control than growth traits in Populus tomentosa Carr.. Annals of Forest Science 72, 89–97 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0401-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0401-5

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