Genetic variation in heartwood properties and growth traits of Eucalyptus bosistoana

Abstract

Forty-one E. bosistoana families were evaluated for the production of heartwood quantity and quality in two sites. High estimated heritabilities of heartwood diameter (HWD) were found in both sites (0.66 and 0.71). The estimated heritabilities of extractives content (EC) were lower with 0.16 and 0.25. Weak genetic correlations between HWD and EC were found in one site, but highly negative (− 0.86) genetic correlations were observed in the other. The G × E interaction had no significant influence on growth traits but a small-level influence on the EC. Five families were selected for tree breeding as they produced both large HWD and high EC in both sites. It was suggested that genetic breeding selection could improve the heartwood quantity and quality of E. bosistoana plantations.