Genetic analyses for height and diameter growth of 9-year-old red maple progenies in five plantations

Several growth measurements were made on nine-year-old red maple progenies growing in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Significant differences occurred among stands and among families within stands for caliper (measured 6 in above base of tree), height, and diameter at breast height (DBH) in most plantations. Seedlings froth north central seed sources (the southern two-thirds of the Lake States and of New England) generally were above average in height and caliper in all plantations, whereas those from southern sources were below average. East central sources were average in height but above average in caliper and DBH. Heritabilities (h 2 ) for height on a within stand single tree basis varied from .02 in Indiana and Minnesota to .42 in Michigan. The highest heritability values for DBH and caliper were .23 and .25, respectively. Heritabilities calculated on a basis in which stands were disregarded were much higher. Growth performance of the same progenies growing in most plantations was significantly correlated. However, the presence of some degree of genotype-plantation interaction did occur and was mostly a result of unique progeny response in growth in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This interaction will complicate but will not preclude the development of effective breeding and selection strategies for growth improvement of red maple.

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Author(s): Alden M. Townsend, W. R. Harvey

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - North Central Tree Improvement Conference - 1983