Nursery growth and dry weight of plus tree progenies of Pinus contorta

Abstract

Height development, stem diameter and dry weight of plus tree progenies of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia) from controlled cross pollination, open pollination and selfing were evaluated in a nursery trial. Early growth was slow in year 1 but more rapid in year 2, and it showed higher correlation with total increment than late growth. Nursery growth was uncorrelated with 10‐year‐height in field. The controlled crosses started growth faster and became higher than the two other types of materials. The family variance within all types differed also significantly. Mother clone had larger influence on 2nd‐year‐growth than father clone. Height and diameter growth were slightly influenced by latitudinal but not altitudinal origin. Prolepsis was independent on both. Specific combining ability (SCA) decreased while general combining ability (GCA) increased by age. For dry weight, SCA was more important than GCA.

Key words:

• Pinus contorta
• plus tree
• growth
• dry weight
• general and specific combining ability
• controlled crosses
• selfing
• open pollination
• early testing