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Genetic variation in Pinus taeda wood properties predicted using non-destructive techniques

  • Original Paper
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Abstract

• Background

Tree breeders have been reluctant to include wood traits in tree improvement programs owing to logistic difficulties and the cost associated with the assessing the traits.

• Methods

We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two non-destructive techniques for genetic parameters estimation in three diallel test series of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The traits were measured by acoustics (velocity, stiffness) and predicted by calibration models based on near infrared (NIR) spectra (air-dry density, microfibril angle, modulus of elasticity, coarseness, wall thickness).

• Results

Acoustic and NIR-predicted traits were not correlated with diameter based on 30 full-sib family means of each diallel series. Correlations between traits were in accordance with previous published results. Additive genetic variation was considerable for all traits. Specific combining ability variances were not significant. The traits predicted by acoustic and NIR methods had high narrow-sense individual tree and family mean heritability values. Individual tree narrow sense heritability ranged from 0.14 (tracheid coarseness) to 0.92 (air-dry density). As expected, family mean heritability values of most traits exceeded 0.80.

• Conclusions

The high heritabilities suggest that acoustic and NIR-based methods can efficiently be used for screening loblolly pine progeny tests for surrogate wood traits. Such methods can save considerable resources in tree breeding programs that aim to improve wood quality.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by an USDA Forest Service Agenda 2020 grant. The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Wood Quality Consortium of the University of Georgia, the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, and the North Carolina State University Cooperative Tree Improvement Program. The second author thanks Bioforest S.A. for the support to complete this work. Special thanks to Tyler Eckard for his help in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Fikret Isik

  2. Wood Properties Section, Bioforest S.A., P.O. Box 70-C, Concepción, Chile

    Christian R. Mora

  3. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Laurence R. Schimleck

Authors
  1. Fikret Isik
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  2. Christian R. Mora
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  3. Laurence R. Schimleck
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fikret Isik.

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Handling Editor: Luc Pâques

Appendix

Appendix

Table 6 Distributions (percent) of variance components over the total variance for indirect measured wood quality traits in three diallels
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Isik, F., Mora, C.R. & Schimleck, L.R. Genetic variation in Pinus taeda wood properties predicted using non-destructive techniques. Annals of Forest Science 68, 283–293 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0035-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0035-9

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