Summary
Based on 15-year-old spruce (Picea mariana) trees of 40 open-pollinated families grown in New Brunswick, this study examined the genetic variation and inheritance of wood density, and its relationship with growth trait (tree diameter, tree height and bole volume). Implications of these genetic parameters for wood quality improvement were discussed. Although wood density, earlywood density and latewood density show smaller phenotypic variation than growth traits, a larger part of the variation in these traits is due to families. These traits are under strong genetic control (h 2i ranges from 0.60 to 0.86, and h 2f ranges from 0.56 to 0.68). Wood density has a strong genetic correlation with earlywood density and latewood density (+0.72 and -0.73, respectively), but earlywood density and latewood density are strongly related to each other. As a result, wood density components have little value in improving the efficiency of selection for overall wood density. Overall wood density shows negative genetic correlations with growth traits (ranging from -0.34 to -0.41). To achieve optimal genetic gains, therefore, index selection for multiple traits is essential. This study reveals that selection for dry mass weight would result in remarkably higher genetic gain in gross fibre yield than selection for bole volume alone (+14.15% and +9.28%, respectively). Furthermore, selection for dry mass weight would result in less reduction in wood density, and while holding wood density at zero change, it is still possible to obtain huge genetic gain in gross fibre yield.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Gadir, A. Y.; Krahmer, R. L.; Mckimmy, M. D. 1993: Relationships between intra-ring variables in mature Douglas-fir trees from provenance plantations. Wood and Fiber Science 25(2): 182–191
Allen, P. J. 1977: Genotypic and phenotypic correlations of wood and tree characteristics. In: Variation of growth, stem, quality, and wood properties in relation to genetic improvement of tropical forest tree. IUFRO Workshop, Brisbane
Anonymous 1978: Black spruce seedling seed orchard and progeny tests. New Brunswick Tree Improv. Council Estab. Rep. No. 3
Armstrong, J. P.; Skaar, C.; Zeeuw, C. de 1984: The effect of specific gravity on some mechanical properties of some world woods. Wood Sci. Technol. 18: 137–146
Barefoot, A. C.; Hitchings, R. G.; Ellwood, E. L. 1964: Wood characteristics and kraft paper properties of four selected loblolly pines. I. Effect of fiber morphology under identical cooking conditions. Tappi 47: 343–356
Barefoot, A. C.; Hitchings, R. G.; Ellwood, E. L.; Wilson, E. H. 1970: The relationship between loblolly pine fiber morphology and kraft paper properties. N.C. Agris. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. No. 202. N.C. State Univ., Raleigh
Bastien, J. C.; Roman-Amat, B.; Vonnet, G. 1985: Natural variability of some wood quality traits of coastal Douglas-fir in a French progeny test: implications on breeding strategy. Proc. IUFRO Working Party on Breeding Strategy for Douglasfir as an introduced species, Vienna
Becker, W. A. 1984: Manual of quantitative genetics. 4th Ed., Washington: Academic Enterprises
Bendtsen, B. A. 1978: Properties of wood from improved and intensively managed trees. For. Prod. J. 28: 61–72
Birot, Y; Nepveu, G. 1979: Variabilité clonal et liaisons ortets-ramets dans une population d'Epicéa. Silvea Genet. 28: 37–47
Boyle, T. J. B.; Balatinecz, J. J.; McCaw, P. M. 1988: Genetic control of some wood properties in black spruce. Proc. Twenty-first Mtg. Can. Tree Improv. Assoc., Part 2, August 17–21, 1987, Troro, N.S.
Canada Department of Forestry 1963: Native trees of Canada. 6th Ed., Bulletin 61, Ottawa: Roger Duhamel
Dadswell, H. E.; Watson, A. J.; Nicholls, W. P. 1959; What are the Wood properties required by the paper industry in the trees of the future. Tappi 42(7): 521–526
Einspahr, D. W.; J. P. Buijtenen van.; Peckham, J. R. 1969: Pulping characteristics of ten-year loblolly pine selected for extreme wood specific gravity. Silvae Genet. 18: 57–61
Falconer, D. S. 1981: Introduction to quantitative genetics. New York: Ronald Press
Hall, J. P. 1984: The relationship between wood density and growth rate and the implications for the selection of black spruce plus trees. Inf. Rep. N-X-224, Newfoundland For. Res. Cent., Can. For. Serv., Newfoundland
Honer, T. G.; Ker, M. F.; Alemdag, I. S. 1983: Metric timber tables for the commercial tree species of Central and Eastern Canada. Inf. Rep. M-X-140, Marit. For. Res. Cent., Fredericton
Keith, C. T.; Kellogg, R. M. 1986: Wood quality considerations in tree improvement programs. Proc. Workshop held in Quebec City, August 19, 1985, Special publication SP-513E, Ottawa: Forintek Canada Corp.
Kellogg, R. M. 1989: Second growth Douglas-fir: its management and conversion for value. Special Publication No. SP-32, Vancouver: Forintek Canada Corp.
Kempthorne, O.; Nordskog, O. W. 1959: Restricted selection index. Biometrics 15: 10–19
Kennedy, E. I.; Jessome, A. P.; Petro, F.J. 1968: specific gravity survey of eastern Canadian woods. Publ. 1221, Can. Dept. For. Rural Dev.
King, J. N.; Yeh, F. C.; Heaman, C.; Dancik, B. J. 1988: Selection of wood density and diameter in controlled crosses of coastal Douglas-fir. Silvae Genet. 37: 152–157
Kleinschmit, J.; Knight, W. 1967: Durch Umwald und Erbanlagen bedingte Variation der Trockensubstanzeugung, Struktur and Dicht junger Fichten (Picea abies Karst.). Allg. Forst-Jagdztg. 138: 189–198
Lin, C. Y. 1978: Index selection for genetic improvement of quantitative characters. Theor. Appl. Genet. 52: 49–56
Magnussen, S.; Keith, C. T. 1990: Genetic improvement of volume and wood properties of jack pine: selection strategies. For. Chron. 66: 281–286
Morgenstern, K. E.; Villeneuve, M. 1986: The role of wood quality in New Brunswick's genetic improvement program. XVII IUFRO World Congress, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Morgenstern, K. E.; Steeves, D. G.; Simpson, J. D. 1990: Survey of wood density in several conifers in the Maritime Provinces. Proc. Twenty-second Mtg. Can. Tree Improv. Assoc., Part 2, Edmonton, Alberta
Mothe, F. 1983: Study of the genetic variability between and within populations of wood quality and growth in common spruce. Centre National de Recherches Forestières, Nancy
Newlin, J. A.; Wilson, T. R. C. 1919: The relation of the shrinkage and strength properties of wood to its specific gravity. Bull. No. 676, USDA For. Serv., Forest Prod. Lab., Madison
Panshin, A. J.; Zeeuw, C. de 1980: Textbook of wood technology. 4th Ed., New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company
Park, Y. S.; Simpson, J. D.; Fowler, D. P.; Morgenstern, K. E. 1989: Selection index with desired gains to rogue jack pine seedling seed orchard. Inf. Rep., M-X-176, For. Can., Fredericton
Risi, J.; Zeller, E. 1960; Specific gravity of the wood of black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. B.S.P) grown on a Hylocomium-cornus site type. Laval Univ. For. Res. Found., Québec
Rowe, J. S.; Rowe, J. S. 1972: Forest Regions of Canada. Can. For. Serv. Publ. 1300
SAS Institute Inc. 1985: SAS User's guide: statistics. 5th Ed., North Carolina: SAS Institute Inc.
Smyth, J. H.; Brownright, A. J. 1986: Forest tree production centres in Canada-1984. Inf. Rep. O-X-378, Can. For. Serv. Great Lakes For. Res. Cent.
Van Buijtenen, J. P. 1964: Anatomical factors influencing wood density of slash pines and the implications for the developement of a high-quality pulpwood. Tappi 47(7): 401–404
Van Buijtenen, J. P. 1982: Fiber for the future. Tappi 65: 10–12
Van Buijtenen, J. P. 1986: Computer simulation of the effect of wood specific gravity and rotation age on the production of linerboard and multiwall sack paper. Tappi Res. and Develop. Conf. Technol.
Van Buijtenen, J. P.; Einspahr, D. W.; Peckham, J. R. 1969: Micropulping loblolly pine grafts selected for extreme wood specific gravity. Silvae Genet. 17: 15–19
Vargas-Hernandez, J.; Adams, W. T. 1991: Genetic variation of wood density components in young coastal Douglas-fir: implications for tree breeding. Can. J. For. Res. 21: 1801–1807
Villeneuve, M. 1986: Rapid estimates of wood density in family tests. M. Sc. F. thesis, Fac. For. Univ. New Brunswick, Fredericton
Yanchuk, A. D.; Kiss, G. K. 1993: Genetic variation in growth and wood specific gravity and its utility in the improvement of interior spruce in British Columbia. Silvae Genet. 42(2–3): 141–147
Zhang, S. Y. 1992: Structure-property relationship of wood in East-Liaoning Oak. Wood Sci. Technol. 26: 139–149
Zhang, S. Y. 1994a: Mechanical properties in relation to specific gravity in 342 Chinese woods. Wood and Fiber Science 26(4): 512–526
Zhang, S. Y. 1994b: Effect of growth rate on wood specific gravity and selected mechanical properties in individual species from distinct wood categories. Wood Sci. Technol.
Zhang, S. Y. 1994c: The relationships of selected wood mechanical properties with specific gravity in individual species from distinct wood categories. (in preparation)
Zhang, S. Y.; Zhong, Y. 1991: Effect of growth rate on specific gravity of East-Liaoning oak (Quercus liaotungensis) wood. Can. J. For. Res. 21: 255–260
Zhang, S. Y.; Fujiwara, S.; Baas, P. 1992: Hardwood density in relation to fibre morphology and tissue properties. Proc. IUFRO All-Division 5 Conference, August 23–28, 1992, Nancy
Zhang, S. Y.; Nepveu, G.; Eyono Owoundi, R. 1994: Intratree and intertree variation in selected wood quality characteristics of European oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur). Can. J. For. Res. 24: 1818–1823
Zobel, B. J.; Buijtenen, J. P. 1989: Wood variation: its causes and control. Berlin: Springer-Verlag
Zobel, B. J.; Talbert, J. T. 1984: Applied forest tree improvement. New York: John Wiley & Sons
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We wish to thank G. Chauret for their assistance in X-ray densitometric measurements undertaken at Forintek's Eastern Division in Ottawa. Thanks are also due to Dr. Y. S. Park for his helpful advice and comments on a previous draft of the manuscript, and to T. Keenam, V. Steel, R. Plourde, and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance. R. LeBlanc and Dr. G. Caron participated in the planning of the study and assisted with logistics. Special thanks are extended to D. Simpson of the New Brunswick Tree Improvement Council for his constant interest, full support and helpful advice throughout this study
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, S.Y., Morgenstern, E.K. Genetic variation and inheritance of wood density in black spruce (Picea mariana) and its relationship with growth: implications for tree breeding. Wood Sci.Technol. 30, 63–75 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195269
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195269