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Growth Differences Within Full-Sib Families of Picea Abies (L.) Karst

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Growth Differences Within Full-Sib Families of Picea Abies (L.) Karst STUDIA FORESTALIA SUECICA Growth differences within full-sib families of Picea abies (L.) Karst. Tillvtixtskillnader inom helsyskonfamiljer av gran Picea abies (L.) Karst GOSTA ERIKSSON Department of Forest Genetics, Royal College of Forestry, Stockholm, Sweden VELICHKO GAGOV Higher Forestry Institute, Chair of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria SKOGSHOGSKOLAN ROYAL COLLEGE OF FORESTRY STOCKHOLM Abstract ODC 165.3: 174.7 In the present paper the reasons for differences in plant height within full-sib families of Norway spruce are discussed. In many cases it was shown that the duration of the growth period to some extent was responsible for the differences in plant height. If the total plant height is plotted against the percentage growth 4 or 5 weeks before growth termination, clones with good growth rhythm characteristics could conveniently be identified. Therefore this technique is recommended for selection of ortets in nurseries. Ms received 4th October, 1975 LiberForlag/Allmanna Forlaget ISBN 91-38-02753-4, ISSN 0039-3150 Berlingska Boktryckeriet, Lund 1976 Contents 1 Introduction .......... 5 3.3 Total plant height-total branch length ...........20 2 Material and methods ....... 6 4 Acknowledgements ........22 3 Results and discussion ....... 8 5 Summary 23 3.1 The point of time for 90 percentage ........... growth .......... 8 6 Sammanfattning .........24 3.2 Growth at certain intervals before growth cessation ....... 14 Literature ............25 2 .SFS nr 130 1 Introduction The different growth capacity of prove- terminated their growth later than the nances of Picea abies originating from others. varying countries has long been known It is also evident that there are dif- (e.g. Langlet, 1964, Gellander, 1970, ferences in growth capacity within full-sib ICrutzsch, 1975). These dissimilarities be- families. Therefore, the question might be tween provenances can, at least to a certain raised as to whether these differences can extent, be attributed to different photo- also be attributed to varying photoperiodic periodic responses of the provenances responses of the individual plants or whether tested (cf. Sylven, 1940, Dormling, 1973). they are due to some other physiological Similar results for provenances of Picea reasons, such as photosynthetic capacity. sitchensis (Burley, 1966) and Pinus taedu 'The purpose of the present investigation (Perry et al. 1966) as well as for clones of was to throw some light on the question Salix alba/fragilis (Lattke, 1973) were re- "Why do some plants from a particular ported. This means that budset and growth full-sib family grow better than their full- cessation take place following exposure sibs?" The benefits derived from the present to dark periods of different length in dif- investigation might be twofold: ferent provenances. Such differences are 1. To guide the physiologists in under- not limited to the provenance level. Thus taking more detailed investigations con- Hagner (1970) demonstrated a great varia- cerning the reasons for the variation of tion within provenances of Pinus sylvestris growth capacity within a full-sib family. as regards the annual rhythm. Similar ob- servations have been noted by Schiitt (1962) 2. To guide the geneticists in their work for Pinus sylvestris and by Kozlowski and of selecting ortets which should be used Peterson (1962) for Pinus resinosa. The as starting material for commercial pro- tallest trees became tallest because they duction of cuttings. 2 Material and methods In an investigation studying the inheritance The short CN was represented by clones of the critical night length for budset (CN) from northern Sweden and the long CN in Picea abies (Dormling et al. 1974) the was represented by clones from France. plant height was measured once a week. Further details as regards the clones are These data were used in the present in- presented below (Table 1) and in a paper vestigation. Three types of full-sib families by Dormling et al. (1974). All plants, were included in the study: irrespective of type of the progeny, were grown under continuous light for 11 weeks. short CN x short CN From then on the plants were grown under short CN x long CN different light regimes (0-8 hours of long CN x long CN Table 1. The correlation and regression coefficients for the relationship between the date for reaching 90 per cent of the total plant height and the total plant height. Number of Exp. r dark hours No. French x French Swedish x Swedish French x Swedish 9 0 1006 x AC 2003 7 10 0 1007 x AC 2003 7 10 0 1007 x AC 2003 6 11 0 1008 x AC 1008 7 12 Z 3008 x Neufchateaux 7 20 0 1006 x BD 2006 6 2 1 0 1007 x BD 2006 6 darkness) for six weeks. So far six progenies be mentioned that each progeny was repre- from each type of combination have been sented by 16 plants growing in four-plant studied. The experiment was partitioned in plots. The two French x French combina- such a way that 12 of the progenies were tions were represented by fewer plants in studied at one time whereas the other six the second experiment. To get reliable in- were tested in a later experiment in which formation on the response of plants to a two progenies from the first experiment certain photoperiod it was necessary to were included a second time, thus con- study the progenies which at the termina- stituting a reference between the two ex- tion of the experiment showed 100 per cent periments (cf. Table 1). Moreover, it may growth cessation. 3 - SFS nr 130 3 Results and discussion In Figure 1 plants belonging to progeny 8 The correlation and regression coeffi- (Swedish x Swedish) are illustrated. The two cients for the relationship between the point most extreme plants are shown, as well as of time for reaching 90 per cent growth some intermediate plants. It is obvious from and the total plant height were calculated. this photograph that there is a great varia- The coefficients are listed in Table 1. From tion within a full-sib family as regards the this table it may be seen that the correlation plant height. coefficients 18 times out of 20 were posi- Before entering upon the discussion of tive and nine of these cases were significant. the growth pattern within full-sib families, The progenies which show a negative cor- the general pattern of growth in the three relation are all weak. However, they are categories of progeny will be commented. In interesting from a breeding point of view as Figures 2-3 the percentage of growth of will be discussed below. The large dif- the individual progenies are illustrated. ferences as regards the correlation and From these figures it may be seen that there regression coefficients from progeny 10 in is a slight difference between the Frenchx the two experiments may partly be ex- French progenies on the one hand and the plained by the difference in photoperiodic French x Swedish and the Swedish x Swedish conditions. These plants may respond faster ones on the other hand. Thus none of the to a longer dark period than to a shorter. French x French progenies had reached their Anyhow, this observation indicates the 90 percentage growth four weeks before the necessity of testing the plant response under termination of the experiment, whereas all outdoor conditions. The regression coeffi- French x Swedish and Swedish x Swedish cients indicate that the duration of growth progenies reached their 90 percentage is to some extent responsible for the ob- growth before that point of time. This served difference in plant height. The observation is promising since it indicates longer the growing period the taller the the possibility of using those particular plant. This in turn means that there is a provenance hybrids in practical forestry. variation of the photoperiodic response even within a full-sib family. For each type of progeny the two ex- 3.1 The point of time for 90 percentage tremes as regards the regression coefficient growth were selected for an illustration of the To test whether or not the variation in final relationships discussed above. Progenies 16 plant height within a full-sib family could -17 contained fewer plants as pointed out be attributed to differences in the duration above and were therefore excluded from of the growing period, the final plant height the diagrammatic illustrations. Figures 4-9 was plotted against the point of time for reveal that there is a great variation within reaching of 90 percentage of the total each type of progeny. The strength of the growth (cf. Figures 4-9). This method will photoperiodic response seems to be less be referred to as method I. This percentage pronounced in the French x French pro- was preferred to the date for complete genies. cessation of growth. At the 90 per cent These diagrams should be used as a level the growth curves have not yet reached starting point for a discussion of the selec- their insensitive parts where they start to tion of ortets for cutting propagation. It is flatten. probable that reforestation in future would Figure 1. Photograph of plants belonging to progeny 8, AC 1002xAC 1009. The biggest and smallest plants are illustrated as well as some intermediate plants. ERCENTAGE OF GROWTH WEEKS BEFORE TERMINATION OF THE EXPERIMENT Figure 2. The relationship between the percentage growth and time for different types of progenies in experiment 1. F = French; S = Swedish. PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH WEEKS BEFORE TERMINATION OF THE EXPERIMENT Figure 3. The relationship between the percentage growth and time for different types of progenies in experiment 2. F= French; S=Swedish. The dotted line refers to progeny 18 which had to be studied at 6 hours of darkness since 4.5 hours of darkness did not cause a 100 percentage growth cessation.
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