Heritability of stem straightness and genetic correlations in Eucalyptus cladocalyx in the semi-arid region of Chile

• Main Authors: Carlos Alberto Scapim, Freddy Mora, Sandra Perret, Felipe Vargas-Reeve
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazilian Society of Plant Breeding 2013-06-01
• Series: Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology
• Subjects: Bayesian inference; Gibbs sampling algorithm; water stress; Eucalyptus.
• Online Access: http://www.sbmp.org.br/cbab/siscbab/uploads/c8eb9792-cb82-d8c7.pdf
• ISSN: 1518-7853; 1984-7033

The aim of this study was to determine genetic parameters for straightness of the trunk of Eucalyptus cladocalyx, witha view to the selection of straight trees, while keeping the impact on growth minimal. The tests were conducted at two locations inthe semi-arid region of Chile, using a randomized block design, with 30 replications and 49 half-sib families. The parameters wereestimated by a bi-character model of individual trees, using Bayesian inference by Gibbs algorithm. The heritability for stem straightnesswas shown to be moderate, with h2=0.40 [0.29-0.57]. Heritabilities for diameter and height were moderate: 0.30 [0.24-0.38]and 0.30 [0.22-0.44]. Genetic correlations between straightness and growth were statistically not different from zero. The genotypeenvironmentinteraction was not significant (p>0.05) for the traits. The moderate degree of genetic control allows significant geneticgains in environments under water stress.