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Inheritance of growth and survival in two 9-year-old, open-pollinated progenies of an advanced breeding population of Chinese firs in southeastern China

Journal of Forestry Research volume 27, pages 1067–1075 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Tree growth traits (tree height, DBH and stem volume) and survival from two 9-year-old, open-pollinated progeny tests of Chinese fir were investigated for heritability, genotype × environment interaction, age-age genetic correlation and selection efficiency. The 97 and 79 families planted at two sites were collected from the third-cycle seed orchard. Individual heritability was estimated between 0.05 and 0.21 for tree height, DBH, and volume and between 0.45 and 1.0 for survival. Family heritability was between 0.20 and 1.14. Significant genotype × environment interaction was observed for the three growth traits. Type B genetic correlation was between 0.41 and 0.67 with an increasing trend as tree grows. High age-age genetic correlation was observed with correlation reaching 0.9 after age 4 for height, DBH, and volume. The genetic gains were estimated at 3.26, 3.39 and 5.98 % for tree height, DBH, and volume with 10 % selection intensity. The implication for advanced tree breeding in Chinese fir is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Yangkou Forest Farm and Guanzhuang Forest Farm for trial maintenance over the years. Thanks are also extended to the many people who assisted at various stages of the work since 1964. The authors extend special gratitude to the late Yuewu Chen, their colleague, for his efforts and vision on gene conservation and utilization of Chinese fir genetic resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fujian Academy of Forestry, Fuzhou, 350012, People’s Republic of China

    Renhua Zheng, Shunde Su & Hui Xiao

  2. The Key Laboratory of Timber Forest Breeding and Cultivation for Mountainous Areas in Southern China, Fuzhou, 350012, People’s Republic of China

    Renhua Zheng, Shunde Su & Hui Xiao

  3. State Forestry Administration Engineering Research Center of Chinese Fir, Fuzhou, 350012, People’s Republic of China

    Renhua Zheng, Shunde Su & Hui Xiao

  4. The Key Laboratory of Forest Culture and Forest Product Processing Utilization of Fujian Province, Fuzhou, 350012, People’s Republic of China

    Renhua Zheng, Shunde Su & Hui Xiao

  5. Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 682, Guangshan 1 Rd., Guangzhou, 510520, People’s Republic of China

    Zhou Hong

  6. The Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Liming Bian & Jisen Shi

  7. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90183, Umeå, Sweden

    Harry X. Wu

  8. CSIRO NRCA, Black Mountain, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Harry X. Wu

Authors
  1. Renhua Zheng
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  2. Zhou Hong
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  3. Shunde Su
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  4. Liming Bian
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  5. Hui Xiao
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  6. Jisen Shi
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  7. Harry X. Wu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renhua Zheng.

Additional information

Project funding: This research was jointly funded by the Fujian Province Science and Technology Research funding for the Tree Breeding Program of Chinese fir (Min Lin 2009-4 and Min Lin Ke 2013-1) and Twelfth Five Year Plan in areas like national science and technology plan project (2012BAD01B0201). Support was also received from the Innovative Research Team of the Educational Department of China and the Innovative Research Team of the Universities of Jiangsu Province.

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Corresponding editor: Yu Lei

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Zheng, R., Hong, Z., Su, S. et al. Inheritance of growth and survival in two 9-year-old, open-pollinated progenies of an advanced breeding population of Chinese firs in southeastern China. J. For. Res. 27, 1067–1075 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0250-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0250-1

Keywords

  • Chinese fir
  • Progeny test
  • Heritability
  • Genetic gain