APPLIED TREE

IMPROVEMENT
 GENERAL CONCEPTS OF TREE BREEDING

• TREE BREEDING
• TREE IMPROVEMENT
• FOREST GENETICS
• LIMITATIONS
• ADVANTAGES
FOREST GENETICS
✓Activities restricted to genetic studies of forest trees
are termed as forest genetics.

✓The objective is to determine the genetic

relationship among the trees and species
TREE BREEDING - DEFINITION

✓Tree breeding is the application of genetics, reproductive biology and

economics principles to the genetic improvement and management of
forest trees.

✓Objective is to solve some specific problems or to produce a specially

desired product
 TREE IMPROVEMENT
Control of parentage in combination with other forest management activities
(silviculture) to improve the overall yields and quality of products.

• It consist of a marriage of silviculture and tree parentage to obtain the

greatest overall returns

• Tree Imp. is an additional tool of silviculture that deals with the kind and
genetic makeup of the trees used in forest operations.
 All beginning tree improvement programs rely on & consist of the
following

1. A determination of the species, or geographic sources within a species, that should be used in a
given area
2. A determination of amount, kind, and causes of variability within the species.
3. A packaging of the desired qualities into improved individuals, such as to develop trees with
combinations of desired characteristics.
4. Mass producing improved individuals for reforestation purposes.
5. Developing and maintaining a genetic base population broad enough for needs in advanced
generations
Where & When should be Tree Improvement used?
Production of the desired-quality timber in maximum amounts
in the shortest period of time at a reasonable cost
 BREEDING OBJECTIVES

✓Tree improvement specialists strive to improve the forest both for better
yields and better quality (Zobel, 1974)

✓To breed for improved economic characteristics while at the same time
to maintain or broaden genetic base for adaptability and pest resistance.
Advantages and Limitations of Tree Improvement
Advantage

✓Genetic improvements in forest trees is once obtained, it can be kept

over a number of generations (permanance)

✓Genetic material that is developed can be kept intact for an indefinite

time through methods of vegetative methods (genotypes –grafts or
cuttings)
 Limitations
✓The size of the trees creates problems in measurement, crossing especially
in seed collection
✓Size – suitable areas necessary for storage of desired genetic material and
testing
✓Many trees donot flower at a young age, thus making quick breeding
program difficult
✓ Slow generation time – juvenile – mature correlations especially for
growth characteristics

✓ Availability of seed material with the known genetic background is

frequent problem

✓ Envrionmental variability - forestland

 Limitations
✓A lack of knowledge about what will be desired in the future can be deterrent to a tree
improvement program
Ex. Wood qualities – low or high specific gravity wood
✓Trees differ from one another due to the differing environment in which they grow
and also result of differing parentages
✓Permanence of organizations and movement of people
✓Tree improvement is a long-term process , it must have good permanent records that
are handed on from person to person