Genetic Engineering and Traditional Breeding: Where is the Interface?

Propagation of genetically superior stock a cornerstone of any genetic improvement program. For clonal forestry and genetic engineering to be useful to a tree improvement program, highly efficient methods of vegetative propagation need to be developed. It is well established in crop plants that genotype is an important determining factor in the develop of successful propagation methods. Preliminary data from tree species shows that similar genotypic effects exist in these species. To maximally exploit superior genotypes in ongoing sexual breeding programs, responsiveness to vegetative propagation needs to be selected to insure continuing flow of genotypes among sexual breeding, clonal forestry and genetic engineering efforts. Future research should be undertaken to determine the nature and degree of heritability of vegetative propagation in valuable tree species. In addition a highly regenerable select nuclear population should be created as the common pool through which genetically engineered genotypes could be moved into clonal forestry or sexual breeding programs. Keywords: Clonal forestry, genetic engineering, sexual breeding, genotypic effects, vegetative propagation

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Author(s): Anne-Marie Stomp

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1989

Section: Concurrent Session 2A