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Assessing wood properties on hybrid poplars using rapid phenotyping tools

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Abstract

There is a growing interest in improving wood properties through clonal selection. However, traditional methods for determining wood properties are difficult to implement at the scale required for large-scale selection programs. In this study, we used rapid phenotyping methods (i.e., drill resistance (DR) and stress wave velocity (SWV)) for assessing wood quality in a 3-year-old clonal trial containing 125 clonal poplar hybrids. These hybrids belong to interspecific crosses of Populus deltoides [D], P. trichocarpa [T], P. nigra [N], and P. maximowiczii [M]. We estimated clonal variation and correlations among DR, SWV, basic density (BD), and dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd). Clonal repeatabilities were moderate for all traits, but were higher for BD and DR (i.e., R2 = 0.45 and 0.46, respectively) than for SWV and MOEd (i.e., R2 = 0.30 and 0.35, respectively). Clonal mean phenotypic correlations were high between BD and DR (rc = 0.84) and between SWV and MOEd (0.87), and the clonal correlations (rg) were 0.90 and 0.96, respectively. Overall, there was a weak relation between BD and MOEd (rc = 0.23 and rg = 0.29, respectively). Results support the use of DR and SWV as tools for the selection of poplar clones oriented to improve solid wood properties.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Grant for Innovation and Competitiveness of the Maule Region (Project BIP 30.481.914-0), Chile. Funding for this work was also provided by the Poplar Technology Center at the University of Talca. We want to acknowledge the forest engineer, Mrs. Carmen Cornejo, who was in charge of the field campaigns and data management. We also thank Mr. Ricardo Baettig and Oscar Vallejos, both professors at the University of Talca, who provided the instruments and some comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo Científico Multidisciplinario, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, P.O. Box 747, Talca, Chile

    Marco A. Yáñez

  2. Centro Tecnológico del Álamo (Poplar Technology Center), Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, P.O. Box 747, Talca, Chile

    Francisco Zamudio & Cristian Espinosa

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel, 3605, Talca, Chile

    Sergio Espinoza

  4. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, P.O. Box 747, Talca, Chile

    Mauricio Ponce

  5. Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia, Chile

    John Gajardo

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  1. Marco A. Yáñez
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Correspondence to Marco A. Yáñez.

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Yáñez, M.A., Zamudio, F., Espinoza, S. et al. Assessing wood properties on hybrid poplars using rapid phenotyping tools. New Forests 52, 397–410 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-020-09799-x

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