Genetic variances among clonally propagated populations of tamarack and the implications for clonal forestry

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Genetic variances of three tamarack (Larixlaricina (Du Roi) K. Koch.) populations in central New Brunswick were examined using vegetatively propagated materials. The component of variance due to clones within families was large for both 5-year height and survival and was partitioned into additive and nonadditive genetic variances. About 85% of the clonal variance for height was additive for the AFES and CANAAN populations but was only 18% for the NORTON population. For survival, the proportion of nonadditive variance was larger than additive variance for the AFES and CANAAN populations, whereas for the Norton population it was negligible. The possibility of clonal propagation and selection is explored as a tree improvement –reforestation option and a strategy is discussed.