Abstract

Genetic gain from utilization of improved planting stock of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in northern Sweden is presented. A total of 36 genetic field tests, comprising more than 177 000 individual trees, was analysed with respect to tree height and survival at the age of 9 - 13 yrs. The field tests included control pollinated progenies from 434 phenotypically selected parent trees constituting the clones of 11 commercial seed orchards, and 16 natural stand control lots. The field test covered a wide geographical and climatic gradient (latitude 62.3 - 67.8 degreesN, temperature sum 496 - 1056 day-degrees), covering the area used for commercial forestry in northern Sweden. Progenies of selected trees had 10% superior height growth, whereas differences in survival were small and non-significant. Thus, selection of individual trees within a stand did not result in the strong negative relationship between growth and survival normally observed among provenances of different latitudinal origin. The height superiority did not show any significant dependency on the growth conditions of the site ( temperature climate), the transfer distance of the seedlings or the age of trees. The effect of improved regeneration stock on volume production during an entire rotation period was discussed using growth and yield functions, and indicated substantial volume gain at the time of both first thinning and final harvest

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
2003, Volume: 18, number: 3, pages: 199-206
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Elfving, Björn

  • Department of Silviculture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Andersson Gull, Bengt

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827580308620

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1043