Effects of height-growth selection on wood density in black spruce in New Brunswick, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y H Weng ◽  
K J Tosh ◽  
M S Fullarton
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Selection Criterion ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Progeny Test ◽  
Genetic Tests ◽  
Growth Selection

Height growth was the main selection criterion for the early-stage black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) breeding programmein New Brunswick, which has produced significant increases in volume growth. In this study we investigate howthe height-growth selection influences growth traits and wood density. Two genetic tests, a realized gain test of large plotsand a progeny test of small plots, were used for this purpose. Wood density was measured using the Resistograph methodon the standing trees. Growth and wood density of the improved seedlots were compared with those of an unimprovedstand checklot. In the progeny test, height-growth selection not only made the improved seedlots taller but also produceda proportional increase in DBH growth relative to the checklot. In the realized gain test, height-growth selection didincrease height, but did not produce a corresponding increase in DBH growth. Effects of height-growth selection on wooddensity varied with tests: the improved seedlot produced a greater although statistically non-significant decline in wooddensity in the progeny test; this reduction was at a much lesser extent or even non-existent in the realized gain test. Overall,results suggest that the improved growth from early stage improvement activities might not substantially and negativelyaffect wood density in plantation forestry and the predicted reduction in wood density in genetic tests of small plotsmight be inflated. Key words: Resistograph, realized gain test, progeny test, tree improvement

Estimation of wood density in family tests of jack pine and black spruce using the Pilodyn tester

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1147-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Villeneuve ◽  
E. K. Morgenstern ◽  
L. P. Sebastian
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Single Test ◽  
Test Location

Wood density is one of the traits considered for the genetic improvement of Pinusbanksiana Lamb. and Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P. in New Brunswick. For both species, family tests based on open-pollinated parents are measured to retain only about 10% of the best families in seedling orchards. The development of a suitable sampling method using the Pilodyn wood tester to rank families is discussed. It was found that Pilodyn estimates at early ages are reliable for P. banksiana only. A sample of one tree in each of five replications in a single test location yields an estimate of wood density with an acceptable coefficient of variation.

Early progeny testing and evaluation of controlled crosses of black spruce

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne J. Williams ◽  
Bruce P. Dancik ◽  
Richard P. Pharis
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Branch Length ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Progeny Testing ◽  
Branch Number ◽  
Shoot Height

Known parent F1 crosses of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill) B.S.P.) were ranked in field progeny tests at ages 7 to 13 years for height and stem volume growth. Nine crosses, including two selfs, were chosen for early juvenile progeny testing in a glasshouse environment. Performance of early seedling growth for the same nine families grown under both field and glasshouse conditions were thus compared in a retrospective study. Juvenile–mature correlations were established between a number of traits associated with tree growth and vigor. Within the nine families there was a ranking from "fast"- to "slow"-growing family groups. Monthly measurements of morphological characters at ages 3 to 6 months in the glasshouse showed highly significant family variation for total height, root collar diameter, lateral branch number, needle number, volume, branch length, and shoot, root, and total seedling dry weights. Weekly application of gibberellin A4/7(GA4/7) beginning at age 3 months influenced 5- and 6-month shoot volume and shoot height, and final dry weight measurements (age 6 months). Height growth of the four slowest growing families (two outcrossed, two selfed) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased by GA4/7 application, but the hormone had no significant effect on height growth of the five faster-growing families (all out-crossed). This may indicate that endogenous gibberellins are not limiting for height growth of faster growing families, but may be limiting for height growth of slower growing families. Simple correlations were highly significant between age 7 to 13 years for field height measurements, and 13-year field volume, versus glasshouse height, stem volume, and the several dry weight measurements at age 6 months. Similarly, Spearman rank order correlations were also significant. These strong correlations between early growth in the glasshouse environment and that of field growth (age 7 to 13 years) suggest that the poorest growing crosses can be identified in a juvenile growth progeny tets under glasshouse conditions by at least age 6 months. Rogueing of the poorest performers as a result of glasshouse testing would thus be at least as reliable as rogueing based on 13 years of field assessment. Selected families for such tests should of course come from similar latitudes and elevations

Effects of Crown Thinning on Baldcypress Height, Diameter, and Volume Growth

1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen G. Dicke ◽  
John R. Toliver
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Taxodium Distichum ◽  
Volume Increment ◽  
Crown Thinning ◽  
Epicormic Branching

Abstract Crown thinning a 63-year-old stand of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum [L.] Rich.) averaging 220 ft²/ac of basal area to 180, 140, and 100 ft²/ac resulted in 5-year diameter growths of 0.44, 0.51, and 0.77 in., respectively. The unthinned control was significantly less at 0.31 in. Six-year height growth averaged 3.1 ft and was not influenced by treatment. Thinning to 140 and 100 ft²/ac stimulated epicormic branching on many trees, which may lower log quality. All crown thinning treatments appeared to increase sawtimber volume increment and sawtimber volume/ac over the control 5 years after thinning. South. J. Appl. For. 12(4):252-256.

Heritability of height growth in 10-year-old Sitka spruce

1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 729-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis C. Yeh ◽  
Sven Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Progeny Test ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Family Selection ◽  
Sources Of Variation

Ten-year height growth for Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. was studied in a progeny test of 42 wind-pollinated families from seven stands on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Although stand and family-within-stand effects were significant sources of variation, 79% of the phenotypic variance in 10-year height was associated with differences among trees within family plots. Estimates of heritability ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]) indicate that a combination of stand, family-within-stand, and progeny-within-family selection will be effective for a long-term breeding program to increase tree heights in Sitka spruce.Key words: Picea, heritability, quantitative.

scholarly journals Comparative Height Growth of Eastern Larch and Black Spruce in Northwestern Ontario

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Spruce Stands

Height growth of eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined using standard stem analysis methods on trees from two sites in northwestern Ontario. The data were obtained from mixed larch-spruce stands which were relatively undisturbed. The larch exhibited substantially better height growth than the spruce through age 65.

Population studies of white spruce. II. Natural inbreeding and relatedness among neighboring trees

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 909-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. S. Park ◽  
D. P. Fowler ◽  
J. F. Coles
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
The Self ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Early Seedling ◽  
Natural Stands ◽  
Lethal Genes

Natural inbreeding and relatedness among neighboring trees were studied in several central New Brunswick populations of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss). Coefficients of relationship (r) were estimated by comparing the self-, neighbor-, open-, and unrelated-pollination effects on percent full seed. The estimates were 0.29 and 0.28 for neighbor and open pollinations, respectively. The effects of natural inbreeding on juvenile traits, e.g., germination and early growth, were slight while the effect on height growth increased with age at least to age 7 years. Neighboring white spruce trees growing in natural stands appear to be related at about the half-sib level (r = 0.25). Based on percent full seed, open-pollination approximates a level of inbreeding expected from trees related at a level well above that of half-sibs. Differential selection at the pre-embryo to early seedling stages results in progenies again related at the half-sib level. It is suggested that an inbreeding equilibrium exists in natural stands of white spruce and that this equilibrium approximates that expected from half-sib matings (F = 0.125). The inbreeding equilibrium is controlled, at least in part, by the frequency of lethal genes in the populations.

Boreal forest provenance tests used to predict optimal growth and response to climate change: 2. Black spruce

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Thomson ◽  
Claire L. Riddell ◽  
William H. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Survival Data ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Optimal Performance ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Contour Lines ◽  
Provenance Trials ◽  
Maximum Temperatures

Height, diameter, and survival data were obtained from 20 range-wide black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) provenance trials established from 1973 to 1977. Population response functions based on February minimum temperatures were developed for 23 Ontario and Great Lakes states provenances to predict climate values maximizing height growth for individual seed sources. Site transfer functions based on February maximum temperatures and May maximum temperatures were developed for five test sites to predict climate values maximizing height growth for test locations. Contour lines representing optimal performance were fitted to current (1961–1990) and future (2041–2070) climate grids. For black spruce seed sources from the east of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, optimal height growth was achieved between 45° and 47°N; for the western sources optimal performance moved north between 46° and 48°N. In eastern Ontario, height growth of northern sources may increase with transfer to warmer environments and with future temperature increases. Central sources are currently growing at or close to optimum and will be negatively affected by increased future temperatures. Southern sources may currently benefit from transfer to cooler environments, and the effects of global warming may cause significant height growth loss and the potential extirpation of local populations.

scholarly journals Soil disturbance and 10-year growth response of coast Douglas-fir on nontilled and tilled skid trails in the Oregon Cascades

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Heninger ◽  
William Scott ◽  
Alex Dobkowski ◽  
Richard Miller ◽  
Harry Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Fine Soil ◽  
Reduced Height

We (i) quantified effects of skidder yarding on soil properties and seedling growth in a portion of western Oregon, (ii) determined if tilling skid trails improved tree growth, and (iii) compared results with those from an earlier investigation in coastal Washington. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were hand planted at eight recent clearcuts in skid ruts in either nontilled or tilled trails, in adjacent soil berms, and in adjacent logged-only portions. Four and 5 years after skidding, rut depths averaged 15 cm below the original soil surface; mean fine-soil bulk density (0–30 cm depth) below ruts of nontilled trails exceeded that on logged-only portions by 14%. Height growth on nontilled trails averaged 24% less than on logged-only portions in year 4 after planting and decreased to 6% less in year 7. For years 8–10, mean height growth was similar for all treatments. Reduced height growth lasted for about 7 years compared with 2 years for coastal Washington. Ten years after planting, trees in skid-trail ruts averaged 10% shorter with 29% less volume than those on logged-only portions. Tillage improved height and volume growth to equal that on logged-only portions. Generalizations about negative effects of skid trails on tree growth have limited geographic scope.

Survival and Growth of Planted Black Spruce, Alder, Aspen and Willow After Fire on Black Spruce/Feather Moss Sites in Interior Alaska

1987 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Zasada ◽  
Rodney A. Norum ◽  
Christian E. Teutsch ◽  
Roseann Densmore
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Balsam Poplar ◽  
Feather Moss ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Broad Leaved Species

Seedlings of black spruce, aspen, green alder, and grayleaf willow planted on black spruce/feather moss sites in the boreal forest in interior Alaska survived and grew relatively well over a 6-year period after prescribed burning. Survival of black spruce was significantly greater than that of the broad-leaved species, but height growth was significantly less. Development of feltleaf willow and balsam poplar from unrooted cuttings was poor. Severity of burn appeared to have an important effect on height growth of all species but not on seedling survival. Key words: Planting, Picea, Alnus, Populus, Salix, microsite.

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