Performance differences among ex situ nativeprove

Authors: Washington J Gapare Brian S Baltunis Miloš Ivković Charlie B Low Paul Jefferson Harry X Wu

Publish Date: 2010/10/01

Volume: 7, Issue: 2, Pages: 409-419

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Abstract

Growth and form traits from a series of three provenance trials of Pinus radiata D Don planted in New Zealand and Australia were analysed at age 9 years from planting The trials included selections from three mainland California natural populations—Año Nuevo Monterey and Cambria Monterey and Cambria performed better than Año Nuevo at two New Zealand sites but Monterey and Año Nuevo were almost identical in growth whereas Cambria grew less vigorously at the Australian site We detected significant provenance differences for diameter at breast height DBH growth and stem straightness across countries p  0001 Estimated heritability for DBH ranged from 019 to 026 within sites while heritability estimates for stem straightness and branching frequency ranged from 010 to 024 Estimated type B genetic correlations for DBH were always higher between the two trials in New Zealand trials than between pairs of trials in New Zealand and the Australian site The genetic coefficient of variation CVA for DBH was around 8–10 compared to ca 5 for the current breeding population These results suggested that there is appreciable genetic variation in the native populations and infusion of these materials would increase the genetic variation in current breeding populations Ten unrelated parents ranked above control seedlots from the older openpollinated seed orchard stock for DBH growth and would be potential candidates for infusion The promising performance of the Cambria material is an important result because the genetic base of the present Australian and New Zealand plantations is principally derived from Año Nuevo and MontereyThis research was jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Forest and Wood Products Australia Radiata Pine Breeding Coop and the Southern Tree Breeding Association Thanks are extended to a large number of people who assisted at various stages of the work backdating to 1978 especially Dr K G Eldridge We are also grateful to invaluable suggestions made by Dr Rowland Burdon and anonymous reviewers which substantially improved the manuscript

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