SLIDE 1 A review of genetic parameters in Eucalyptus nitens
Matthew Hamilton Brad Potts
School of Plant Science University of Tasmania
SLIDE 2 Eucalyptus nitens
Rapid growth, cold tolerance and good pulping properties Large (140,000+.ha) plantation estates in Australia and Chile Most plantations managed for pulpwood BUT increasing interest in solidwood
Photo: Simon Whittock
SLIDE 3 Methods
Collated data from over 100 progeny trials including:
- trait means
- additive and phenotypic variances
- within-population narrow-sense heritabilities
- inter-age, inter-site and inter-trait genetic correlations
SLIDE 4
Methods continued
Modified trait names and inverted correlations as necessary Repeated estimates deleted Standard (average) genetic parameters calculated Open-pollinated (OP) progeny trials Heritability estimates from single-site analyses Coefficient of relationship of 0.4 assumed
SLIDE 5
Heritability and CVa 4.7% 0.45
Wood property
9.5% 0.17
Tree architecture
12.8% 12.4% CVa Heritability Trait category 0.42
Fitness
0.30
Growth (OP trials, single site, coefficient of relationship = 0.4)
SLIDE 6
More on heritability 0.96 0.11 0.51 16
Basic density
1.05 0.37 0.67 5
Cellulose
0.25 0.04 0.12 6
Branch size
0.44 0.20 0.28 5
Stem straightness
1.00 0.00 0.35 13
Pilodyn penetration
0.50 0.26 Mean 0.03 0.00 Min Max Trials Trait 0.79 8
Pulp yield
0.78 79
Diameter (OP trials, single site, coefficient of relationship = 0.4)
SLIDE 7 Heritability estimates similar to E. globulus
Trait 0.60 0.51
Basic density
0.26 0.35
Pilodyn penetration
0.50 0.26 0.48
Pulp yield
0.23
Diameter
- E. globulus data from WHITTOCK, S.P.; COSTA E SILVA, J.; HAMILTON, M.;
POTTS, B. 2006: "A review of genetic parameters in Eucalyptus globulus". Report to the partners in the Australian Research Council (ARC) linkage grant
SLIDE 8
High age-to-age correlations for diameter 10 3 1 1 3 1 1 Trials 0.83 7 5 0.92 12 6 0.89 0.68 7 4 0.96 6 4 0.88 6 3 0.88 5 3 Mean Age 2 (years) Age 1 (years)
SLIDE 9 Inter-site genetic correlations 0.91 0.77 0.85 4 Cellulose content 0.80 0.63 0.72 2 Branch size 0.93 0.62 0.78 3 Stem straightness 0.91 0.77 0.70 Mean 0.79 0.67
Min 0.99 0.92 1.14 Max 4 5 106 Estimates Pilodyn penetration Basic density Diameter Trait
SLIDE 10 Inter-trait genetic correlations
4 Pilodyn penetration Basic density Max Min Mean N Trait 2 Trait 1
SLIDE 11 Pulpwood inter-trait genetic correlations 0.63 1 Pulp yield Basal area 0.37
5 Cellulose Basic density 0.42 1 Pulp yield 0.82 0.20 0.49 6 Pilodyn 0.08
10 Basic density Diameter 0.25 Min 0.86 0.56 5 Cellulose Diameter Max Mean N Trait 2 Trait 1
SLIDE 12
Outstanding issues
Assumptions relating to inbreeding Genetic correlations between pulpwood traits are not well understood BUT near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) may change this Limited information for solidwood traits
SLIDE 13
Acknowledgements
Greg Dutkowski Chris Harwood Sandra Hetherington Kelsey Joyce Tony McRae Deans Williams Forestry Tasmania Gunns Ltd. Norske Skog Ltd. Southern Tree Breeding Association (STBA) Australian research Council (ARC)
