Effect of Clonal Testing on the Efficiency of Genomic Evaluation in Forest Tree Breeding

Abstract Through stochastic simulations, accuracies of breeding values and response to selection were assessed under traditional pedigree- (BLUP) and genomic-based evaluation methods (GBLUP) in forest tree breeding. The latter provides a methodological foundation for genomic selection. We evaluated the impact of clonal replication in progeny testing on the response to selection realized in seed orchards under variable marker density and target effective population sizes. We found that clonal replication in progeny trials boosted selection accuracy, thus provided additional genetic gains under BLUP. While a similar trend was observed for GBLUP, however, the added gains did not surpass those under BLUP. Therefore, breeding programs deploying extensive progeny testing with clonal propagation might not benefit from the deployment of genomic information. These findings could be helpful in the context of operational breeding programs.

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Utilizing Conjoint Analysis to Develop Breeding Objectives for the Improvement of Pasture Species for Contrasting Environments When the Relative Values of Individual Traits Are Difficult to Assess

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v3n2p44 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 44 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kevin F. Smith ◽

Peter F. Fennessy

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Tree Breeding ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Meat Production ◽

Forest Tree Breeding ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Forage Plants ◽

Individual Traits ◽

Breeding Objectives ◽

Relative Potential

<p>Despite the large number of active programs breeding improved forage plants, relatively little is known about the weightings that breeders consciously or sub-consciously give to specific traits when selecting individual plants, or that agronomists and producers use when assessing the relative merits of contrasting cultivars. This is in contrast to most modern animal breeding programs where the relative merits of novel genetics may be assessed against an index-based breeding objective. There are numbers of reasons why these technologies have not been used widely in plant breeding although applications in forest tree breeding are relatively common. A first step in defining breeding objectives for forage species can be to define the relative importance of specific traits and to interpret how these contribute to the relative potential advantage to a new plant or cultivar. One method of defining these weightings is through surveys of users followed by analyses of their combined experience. Therefore in this study, we have assessed the usefulness of discrete choice techniques in the development of weightings for specific traits in forage plant improvement based on views of both expert users (agronomists and farm consultants) and farmers who were asked to define their relative priorities when considering the renovation of a pasture. The surveys were conducted in three distinct regions of, or environments within, Australia of special relevance to meat production from beef and sheep (high rainfall, temperate (inland), and Mediterranean). In summary this study defines the focus of breeding objectives and selection criteria for different pasture species across production systems.</p>

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Genomics and quantitative genetics

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-171 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 617-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J P van Buijtenen

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Genetics ◽

Cold Hardiness ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Tree Breeding ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Small Population ◽

Genetic Maps ◽

Computational Techniques ◽

Forest Tree Breeding ◽

The Impact

The interaction between genomics and quantitative genetics has been a two-way street. Genomics contributed genetic markers and genetic maps making it possible to study quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and quantitative genetics contributed new theories and computational techniques to deal with the data generated by QTL studies. QTL studies in forest trees have led to the discovery of a few major genes masquerading as quantitative genes, such as genes for rust resistance in several pine species. QTLs for many traits including height growth, leaf traits, wood specific gravity, flowering, frost resistance, disease resistance, and ease of vegetative propagation were found in one or more species. Spring cold hardiness in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) holds the record for number of QTLs with 14. Generally the number is under seven. The effects are often large, but this may often be due to small population sizes. At this time the impact on forest tree breeding is small, although the potential is certainly there. An interesting marker aided back-crossing program is underway in American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.).

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Tissue Culture in Forestry: Economic and Genetic Potential

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc62219-4 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 219-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sadiq Hasnain ◽

William Cheliak

Keyword(s):

Tissue Culture ◽

Genetic Gain ◽

Vegetative Propagation ◽

Tree Breeding ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Tree Improvement ◽

Forest Tree Breeding ◽

Culture Methods ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Genetic Potential

Vegetative propagation of Canadian conifers by tissue culture methods will allow the exploitation of the maximum genetic gain achieved in forest tree breeding programs. Tissue culture could provide a much more rapid means for delivering the genetic gain achieved to the commercial forests. Key Words: Forestry, biotechnology, plant tissue culutre, genetics, tree improvement.

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Effect of genomic prediction on response to selection in forest tree breeding

Tree Genetics & Genomes ◽

10.1007/s11295-018-1283-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J. Stejskal ◽

M. Lstibůrek ◽

J. Klápště ◽

J. Čepl ◽

Y. A. El-Kassaby

Keyword(s):

Genomic Prediction ◽

Tree Breeding ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Response To Selection ◽

Forest Tree Breeding

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Seed orchards in Ukraine: past, present and prospects for the future

Folia Forestalia Polonica ◽

10.2478/ffp-2019-0028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 61 (4) ◽

pp. 284-298

Author(s):

Yuriy Hayda ◽

Svitlana Los ◽

Roman Yatsyk ◽

Larisa Tereshchenko ◽

Grygoriy Shlonchak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Orchard ◽

Tree Breeding ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Forest Tree Breeding ◽

Mountain Regions ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Seed Orchards ◽

Seed Industry ◽

English Oak ◽

Genetic Value

Abstract The seed orchards (SO) serve possibilities to collect seeds from the selected genotypes or to create artificial population throughout the controlled crossing of the target genotypes. Therefore, the seed material obtained from the clonal and seedling seed orchards offers unique opportunity to improve the genetic value of seeds. Thus, the seed orchards are considered as an important part of the forest seed base being the key object for both modern forestry and forestry research. This paper outlines the forest breeding activities associated with the seed production in the seed orchards in Ukraine over the last 70 years. During this period, the different aspects related to the establishment and management of the seed orchard were studied. In these processes, many failures had occurred, their causes and consequences were described. These main breeding activities were reported considering plain and mountain regions of Ukraine as well as specific aspects of the reproduction of the main forest tree species. As of 2019, the total area of the clonal seed orchards (CSO) reached 1040.3 ha, while seedling seed orchards (SSO) only 273.7 ha. The results of research on the growth, reproductive development, the morphology of the plus trees clones in the SO were generalized. The article on the current problems and challenges for Ukrainian forestry mainly related to forest tree breeding and there was also focus on forest seed industry. For the main forest trees species (Scots pine, English oak and other), targeted breeding programs should be developed. It is relevant to create the genetic bank of the forest seeds.

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