| 1. |
- Egbäck, Samuel, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of phenotypic selection on height-diameter ratio of Norway spruce and Scots pine in Sweden
- 2018
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Ingår i: Silva Fennica. - : Finnish Society of Forest Science. - 0037-5330 .- 2242-4075. ; 52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetically improved Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) are extensively used in operational Swedish forestry plantations. However, relatively little is known about the stein slenderness (height-diameter ratio) of genetically improved material. Thus, in this study we investigated effects of plus-tree selection on stem slenderness of Norway spruce and Scots pine in Sweden by evaluating both the plus-tree selection and a large number of progeny trials. Species-specific models for predicting the height-diameter ratio were estimated using regression and mixed model approach. Our results show that phenotypic plus-tree selection promoted less slender Norway spruce trees and more slender Scots pine trees compared to neighboring trees. Similar results were also found for the progeny trials which indicated that genetics played a prominent role in the phenotypic appearance. Compared to the progeny of neighboring trees, Norway spruce plus-tree progenies had a 5.3% lower height-diameter ratio, while Scots pine plus-tree progenies had a 1.5% greater height-diameter ratio. The narrow sense heritability for height-diameter ratio was 0.19 for Norway spruce and 0.11 for Scots pine, indicating that it is possible to modify the height-diameter ratio by breeding. Correlation coefficients between breeding values for height-diameter ratio and diameter were negative for Scots pine (-0.71) and Norway spruce (-0.85), indicating that selection for diameter only would result in less slender stems of both species. Similar correlations were also found between breeding values for height-diameter ratio and height of Scots pine (-0.34) and Norway spruce (-0.74).
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Jones, Grace
(författare)
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Birch Stem and Wood Traits in Genetic and Silviculture Trials in Southern Sweden
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Swedish tree species of birch (silver: Betula pendula and downy: B. pubescens) are often neglected during forest management activities, resulting in low value logs. This thesis investigated birch stem characteristics and wood properties important for solid wood products, in genetics and management trials in southern Sweden. As well as visual stem size and form measurements, non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT) tools were used to indirectly estimate wood density (hardness), wood stiffness, and grain angle.The results of this work suggest that for the 19-year-old silver birch and 15-year-old downy birch sites, important solid wood traits were under a reasonable degree of genetic control. It seems possible to breed birch to improve grain angle since heritability and genetic variation was high for this trait. Silver birch genotypes are expected to perform similarly across sites. At a site with both birch species, silver birch was larger with denser wood than downy birch. Few genetic correlations between measurements means selection for one trait will not inadvertently affect another trait. The radial density profiles showed density was continuing to increase. Acoustic velocity (AV) and fibre length were highly correlated, hardness and density were related, and ring width was related to ring density. In a 35-year-old planted Norway spruce stand, naturally regenerated birch AV was not different between treatments (20% or 50% of plot trees were birch by number). However, a correlation was observed between DBH and AV. This older site may reflect common Swedish conditions since planting birch is rare, and likely had more mature birch wood than the genetics trials. Although meeting an immediate need for studies of birch wood properties from managed stands, this work covered few sites. To meet this limitation the tools and techniques applied in this thesis could be used in further studies. The results of this thesis work will be of interest to forest managers who want to breed birch, or select birch stands, for solid wood products.
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| 4. |
- Jones, Grace, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic Parameters of Stem and Wood Traits in Full-Sib Silver Birch Families
- 2021
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Ingår i: Forests. - : MDPI. - 1999-4907. ; 12:2, s. 1-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated heritability of stem and wood traits to improve Swedish silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) through breeding. Birch is 12% of Sweden’s forest area but mainly used for low value pulp or firewood. This paper applied non-destructive test (NDT) methods, and estimated traits’ heritability (h2), to help breed birch for high value solid wood products. Two trials of 22 families were assessed at age 19 for stem diameter (DBH), stem straightness, rough brown bark height (BH), grain angle (GA), Pilodyn penetration depth (Pilo) and acoustic velocity (AV). X-ray densitometry was performed on a subsample of radial cores taken at 1.3 m from the ground to get an average benchmark density. The h2 values were moderate for GA (0.20 and 0.21) and Pilo (0.53 and 0.48) at the two sites, but the h2 values for AV were low (0.05 and 0.30). There were moderate genotypic correlations between BH and DBH (0.51–0.54). There were low genotypic and phenotypic correlations between NDT measurements and other traits so including NDT in birch breeding efforts should not inadvertently reduce size, stem or wood quality. The high genetic correlations between sites suggest that GA, Pilo and AV values were determined more by genotype than by environment.
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| 5. |
- Jones, Grace, et al.
(författare)
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Non-Destructive Evaluation of Downy and Silver Birch Wood Quality and Stem Features from a Progeny Trial in Southern Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Forests. - : MDPI. - 1999-4907. ; 14:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated whether improved downy birch could perform as well as improved silver birch, and whether there was sufficient genetic variation and control for non-destructive testing (NDT) values to include them as selection traits in breeding programs. NDT tools were applied to a 15-year-old downy birch family trial intermixed with improved silver birch. Average diameters, fissured bark height, and grain angle were higher for silver than downy birch. The genetic analysis for downy birch provided estimates of narrow-sense heritability (h2) for acoustic velocity and Pilodyn penetration depth that were above 0.3 but had low genetic variation. Grain angle had relatively high genetic variability (18%) and an h2 of 0.20. A subsample of 49 trees had 4 mm cores x-rayed for wood density estimates, and 34 stems had 12 mm cores macerated for cell measurements. t-tests revealed that average wood density and cell measurements were not significantly different between species. For silver and downy birch, fiber length and vessel length increased between inner and outer measurement positions, and fiber length was reasonably correlated with acoustic velocity. Silver birch tended to have denser and stiffer wood, while downy birch had less rough bark and straighter grain, and these results are in agreement with existing knowledge. The h2 values were similar to those observed in other birch species and indicate there is potential to breed for improved wood density and grain angle in downy birch.
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| 6. |
- Jones, Grace, et al.
(författare)
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Nondestructive wood density testing in downy birch and silver birch genetics field trial, southern Sweden
- 2019
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Ingår i: 21st International Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation of Wood Symposium. - : U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ; , s. 79-86
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Non-destructive testing of wood density, as is already done for Eucalyptus, can allow for earlyselection of birch trees for breeding programmes and stands for harvesting. In this work, external stemquality traits were visually assessed in a family trial of downy (Betula pendula) and silver (B.pubescens) birch in southern Sweden. A subsample of trees was measured for wood density using thePilodyn resistometer portable NDT tool. An X-ray microdensitometric analysis of the subsample oftrees was completed using the Itrax X-ray machine for increment cores taken from the south face,through the pith to the north bark at 1.3 m stem height. The Pearson’s r value for Itrax density andPilodyn density was high (0.580 for downy birch and 0.795 for silver birch), and this correlationmeans Pilodyn should provide a good estimate of average birch wood density. Neither species hadstable wood density values at age 13 and both species’ density increased over time from pith to bark.Ring width influence on stem density was minor or non-existant, and may vary between birch species
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| 7. |
- Jones, Grace, et al.
(författare)
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Relating estimates of wood properties of birch to stem form, age and species
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Forestry Research. - : Springer. - 1007-662X .- 1993-0607. ; 35:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Birch has long suffered from a lack of active forest management, leading many researchers to use material without a detailed management history. Data collected from three birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) sites in southern Sweden were analyzed using regression analysis to detect any trends or differences in wood properties that could be explained by stand history, tree age and stem form. All sites were genetics trials established in the same way. Estimates of acoustic velocity (AV) from non-destructive testing (NDT) and predicted AV had a higher correlation if data was pooled across sites and other stem form factors were considered. A subsample of stems had radial profiles of X-ray wood density and ring width by year created, and wood density was related to ring number from the pith and ring width. It seemed likely that wood density was negatively related to ring width for both birch species. Linear models had slight improvements if site and species were included, but only the youngest site with trees at age 15 had both birch species. This paper indicated that NDT values need to be considered separately, and any predictive models will likely be improved if they are specific to the site and birch species measured.
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| 8. |
- Liziniewicz, Mateusz, et al.
(författare)
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A site index model for lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. Iatifolia) in northern Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 31, s. 583-591
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A model was developed for predicting site index (SI) values and top height growth of lodgepole pine in northern Sweden. Data on 169 experimental plots from 61 experiments were used for model construction. Six dynamic site equations derived using the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) were tested. All of the equations estimate height and SI values on the basis of a known height and total age, and are base-age invariant. Unbiased parameter estimates were obtained by non-linear modelling without accounting for autocorrelation of residuals. The special formulation of the Hossfeld model and the GADA-transformed logistic function produced the most reliable SI curves. The Hossfeld model is recommended as it did not produce extreme outlying estimates for young stands. The developed model is polymorphic with variable asymptotes and can predict SI and dominant height growth for lodgepole pine between 20 and 50 years old.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Liziniewicz, Mateusz
(författare)
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Effect of spacing on growth and quality parameters in sessile oak (Quercus petraea) stands in central Poland: results 7 years after planting
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 30, s. 710-718
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examined the growth and quality of young oaks in stands established at three different spacings. The three densities were the traditional level, that is, 8000seedlingsha(-1) (1.5x0.85m) plus two where the initial density was decreased by 50% and 70%, achieved by increasing the distance between the rows from 1.5 to 3 or 4.5m. The experiment was located in central Poland on a moderately fertile site. In the two wider spacings, the intention was to use natural regeneration occurring between oak rows as a replacement of intraspecific competition for oaks. The mean height was only affected in the third and the fourth year after establishment. Subsequently, the differences between spacings with respect to both growth and quality traits were insignificant and small. At lower densities, natural regeneration of willow and aspen was abundant and inter-species competition replaced intra-species competition, thus explaining the absence of a spacing effect on growth and quality properties. In the study period, the wider spacings were economically beneficial compared to traditional densities. A strong competition affecting height growth caused by natural regeneration necessitated extensive tendings. More tendings are likely to be needed in the future and they might reduce the initial economical superiority of wider spacing. The study indicates that it is possible to decrease the initial spacing in oak plantations and simultaneously support good growing conditions by means of natural processes, for example, natural regeneration. However, economic efficiency of the method has to be studied in a longer perspective.
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