Age trends and correlations of growth and wood properties in clone of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis in Guangdong, China

Abstract

We assessed growth traits and wood properties of DH32-29, a clone of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis, at age of two to six years in Guangdong in China. Analysis of variance of studied traits showed that there were significant differences (1% level) on all studied traits among ages except for wood basic density. Analysis of age trends of growth traits and wood properties revealed that rotation length of DH32-29 should be more than six years or longer. Phenotypic correlations among traits at individual ages indicated that correlations between growth traits were strongly positive. There was significant change in relationship between growth and wood basic density with increasing age, ranging from −0.03 to −0.54 at 2 and 5 year and 0.003 to 0.3 at 3, 4 and 6 year. Correlations between Pilodyn pin penetration and basic density measured on increment cores showed that Pilodyn could rank or group genotypes or sites into density classes, but failure to predict individual tree and individual clone.

Keywords

eucalypt / age trends / growth traits / wood properties / correlation / nondestructive methods

References

[1] Bouvet J.M., Vigneron P.H., Saya A.. Trends in variance and heritabilities with age for growth traits in Eucalyptus spacing experiments. Silva Genetica, 2003, 52(3–4): 121-133.

[2] Danusevicius D, Lindgren D. 2002. Clonal testing may be the approach to long-term breeding of Eucalyptus. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Euca lyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 192–209.

[3] Dean GH. 1995. Objectives for wood fibre quality and uniformity. In: B.M. Potts, N.M.G. Borralho, J.B. Reid, R.N. Cromer, W.N. Tibbits, C.A. Raymond (eds), Eucalyptus plantations: improving fibre yield and quality. CRC THF-IUFRO Conf., Hobart, Feb. 19–24, p. 483.

[4] Greaves B.L., Borralho N.M.G., Raymond C.A., Farrington A.. Use of a Pilodyn for the indirect selection of basic density in Eucalyptus nitens. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 1996, 26(9): 1643-1650.

[5] Greaves B.L., Borralho N.M.G., Raymond C.A.. Breeding objectives for plantation eucalypts grown for kraft pulp. Forest Science, 1997, 43: 465-472.

[6] Hansen C.P.. Application of the Pilodyn in forest tree improvement. 2000, Humlebaek, Denmark: DFSC Series of Technical Notes TN55 Danida Forest Seed Centre

[7] Hansen J.K., Roulund H.. Genetic parameters for spiral grain, stem form, Pilodyn and growth in 13 year old clones of Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Silvae Genetica, 1996, 46(2–3): 107-113.

[8] Hardy GE, Burgess T, Dell B. 2002. Potential threats of plant pathogens to Eucalyptus plantation in China. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 358–366.

[9] Huang Longbin, Dell B. 2002. Database system approach for integrated plantation nutrition management. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. pp: 290–300.

[10] Ikemori YK, Martins FCG, Zobel BJ. 1986. The impact of accelerated breeding on wood Properties. In proceedings of the 18th IUFRO World Conference Division 5: Forest products Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. pp: 358–368.

[11] Li GY, Xu JM, Lu ZH, Chen JB. 2002. A study effect of density/spacing on tree growth and stand volume of eucalyptus urophylla plantation for pulp wood. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 352–356.

[12] Jacques D., Marchal M., Curnel Y.. Relative efficiency of alternative methods to evaluate wood stiffness in the frame of hybrid larch (Larix × eurolepis Henry) clonal selection. Annals of Forest Science, 2004, 61: 35-43.

[13] Kien N.D., Jansson G., Harwood C., Almqvist C., Ha H.T.. Genetic variation in wood basic density and Pilodyn penetration and their relationships with growth, stem straightness and branch size for Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake in Northern Vietnam. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 2008, 38(1): 160-175.

[14] Kien N.D., Jansson G., Harwood C., Thinh H.H.. Genetic control of growth and form in Eucalyptus urophylla in northern Vietnam. Journal of Tropical Forestry Science, 2009, 21(1): 50-65.

[15] Kien N.D., Jansson G., Harwood C., Almqvist C.. Clonal variation and genotype by environment interactions in growth and wood density in Eucalyptus camaldulensis at three contrasting sites in Vietnam. Silva Genetica, 2010, 59(1): 17-28.

[16] Knowles L.R., Hansen L.W., Wendding A., Dowdes G.. Evaluation of non-destructive methods for assessing stiffness of Douglas fir trees. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 2004, 34(1): 87-101.

[17] Kusnandar D., Galwey N.W., Hertzler G.L., Butcher T.B.. Age trends in variances and heritabilities for diameter and height in Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster AIT.) in western Australia. Silva Genetica, 1998, 47(2–3): 136-141.

[18] Luo J.Z., Zhou G., Wu B., Chen D., Cao J.G., Lu W., Pegg R.E., Arnold R.J.. Genetic variation and age-age correlations of Eucalyptus grandis at Dongmen Forest Farm in southern China. Australian Forestry, 2010, 73(2): 69-82.

[19] Mckenney D.W., Davis J.S., Tumbull J.W., Searle S.D.. The impact of Australian tree species research in China. 1991, Canberra, Australia: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 6 7

[20] Mead D.J.. Opportunities or improving plantation productivity: How much? How quickly? How realistic?. Biomass & Bioenergy, 2005, 28: 249-266.

[21] Mo XY, Peng SY, Long T, Chen WP, Yang XH. 2002. Important traits and combined evaluation of eucalypt clones. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 102–108.

[22] Moura V.P.G., Barnes R.D., Birks J.S.. A comparison of three methods of assessing wood density in provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and other Eucalyptus species in Brazil. Australian Forest Research, 1987, 17(20): 83-90.

[23] Osorio L.F., White T.L., Huber D.A.. Age trends of heritabilities and genotype-by-environment interactions for growth traits and wood density from clonal trials of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden. Silva Genetica, 2001, 50(1): 30-36.

[24] Osorio L.F., White T.L., Huber D.A.. Age-age and trait-trait correlations for Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and their implications for optimal selection age and design of clonal trials. Theoretical Applied Genetics, 2003, 106: 735-743.

[25] Pegg R.E., Li H.J., Li H.W., Zhou G.F., Xiang D.Y.. Study on artificial breeding of eucalypt hybrid in Guangxi. Guangxi Forestry Science, 2006, 35(4): 238-242.

[26] Pliura A., Zhang S.Y., Mackay J., Bousquet J.. Genotypic variation in wood density and growth traits of poplar hybrids at four clonal trials. Forest Ecology and Management, 2007, 238: 92-106.

[27] Qi S.X., Wang H.R., Wen Y.G.. Applied Eucalypt cultivation in China. 2006, Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 24.

[28] Quang T.H., Kien N.D., Arnold S.V., Jansson G., Thinh H.H., Clapham D.. Relationship of wood composition to growth traits of selection open-pollinated families of Eucalyptus urophylla from a progeny trial in Vietnam. New Forests, 2009, 39: 301-312.

[29] Raymond C.A., MacDonald A.C.. Where to shoot your Pilodyn: within tree variation in basic density in plantation Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens in Tasmania. New Forests, 1998, 15: 205-221.

[30] Simpson JA, Pegg R, Bai Z. 2002. An over view of the response of eucalypts to fertilizer at dongmen, southern China. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 253–266.

[31] Stackpole D.J., Vaillancourt R.E., Aguigar M.D., Potts B.M.. Age trends in genetic parameters for growth and wood density in Eucalyptus globulus. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 2010, 6: 179-193.

[32] Varghese M., Harwood C.E., Hegde R., Ravi N.. Evaluation of provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and clones of E. camaldulensis and E. tereticorni at contrasting sites in southern India. Silva Genetica, 2008, 57(3): 136-141.

[33] Wang X., Ross R.J., Mcclellan M., Barbour R.J., Erickson J.R., Forman J.W., Mcginnis G.D.. Strength and stiffness assessment of standing trees using a nondestructive stress wave technique. 2000, Madison, WI: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 197 206

[34] Wei XM, Borralho NMG. 1996. A simple model to describe age trends in heritability in short rotation tree species. In; Tree Improvement for Sustainable Tropical Forestry. Proc. QFRI-IUFRO Conf., Caloundra, Queensland, Australia, pp. 178–181. [Refereed conference]

[35] Wei X.M., Borralho N.M.G.. Genetic control of basic density and bark thickness and their relationships with growth traits of Eucalyptus urophylla in south east China. Silvae Genetica, 1997, 46(4): 245-250.

[36] Wei X.M., Borralho N.M.G.. Objectives and selection criteria for pulp production of Eucalyptus urophylla plantations in south east China. Forest Genetics, 1999, 6(3): 181-190.

[37] Wei RP. 2002. Merging ecological concerns into sustainable management of short-rotation forest plantations in south china: practices by Sino-forest Corp. In: R.P. Wei and D.P. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 51–63.

[38] Wu S.J., Xu J.M., Li G.Y., Risto V., Lu Z.H., Li B.Q., Wang W.. Use of the pilodyn for assessing wood properties in standing trees of Eucalyptus clones. Journal of Forestry Research, 2010, 21(1): 68-72.

[39] Wu S.J., Xu J.M., Li G.Y., Risto V., Lu Z.H., Li B.Q., Wang W.. Estimation of basic density and modulus of elasticity of eucalypts clones using nondestructive methods in southern China. Journal of Tropical Forestry Science, 2011, 23(1): 51-56.

[40] Wu S.J., Xu J.M., Li G.Y., Du Z.H., Lu Z.H., Li B.Q., Wang W.. Genotypic variation in wood properties and growth traits of Eucalyptus hybrid clones in southern China. New Forests, 2011, 42(1): 35-50.

[41] Xu D, Dell B. 2002. Nutrient management of eucalypt plantations in south China. In: R. Wei and D. Xu (eds), Eucalyptus Plantation Research, Management and Development. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., pp. 269–288.

[42] Yin Y.F., Wang L.J., Jiang X.M.. Use of Pilodyn tester for estimating basic density in standing trees of hardwood plantation. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2008, 30(4): 7-11.