Authors: S.Y. Zhang¹; Q. Yu²; G. Chauret³; A. Koubaa⁴

Source: Forest Science, Volume 49, Number 6, December 2003 , pp. 901-908(8)

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

Abstract:

To better understand the genetic control of growth and wood properties in hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), genetic relationships of selected wood properties with growth traits were examined in a 3-yr-old clonal trial located in Windsor and St-Ours, southern Quebec, Canada. In total, 371 trees from 21 hybrid poplar clones were sampled at the two locations. Clonal effects are stronger than growth traits effects on wood density and initial moisture content. The estimated clonal repeatability for wood density (0.92) and initial moisture content (0.80) across the two sites are thus considerably higher than for dbh (0.64) and tree height (0.72). Neither wood density nor mean fiber length were found to significantly correlate with growth traits. This suggests that in the hybrid poplar clones selection for growth traits will not result in a significant reduction in the wood quality traits. Selection for stem dry fiber weight appears to be an optimal selection strategy, as it will lead to the highest genetic gain in stem dry fiber yield, or maximum fiber production while wood density is improved. FOR. SCI. 49(6):901–908.

Keywords: Hybrid poplar clones; tree growth; wood properties; dry fiber weight; clonal repeatability; genetic gains; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management

Document Type: Miscellaneous

Affiliations: 1: Senior Scientist Forintek Canada Corp., 319 rue Franquet, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada, G1P 4R4, 418-659-2647; Fax: 418-659-2922 tony.zhang@qc.forintek.ca 2: Research Scientist Forintek Canada Corp., 319 rue Franquet, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada, G1P 4R4, 3: Industrial Advisor Forintek Canada Corp., 319 rue Franquet, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada, G1P 4R4, 4: Research Scientist SEREX, 25 rue Motel-Industriel, Amqui, Quebec, Canada, G5J1K3, Phone: 418-629-2288; Fax: 418-629-2280 akoubaa@globetrotter.net

Publication date: 2003-12-01

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