TITLE:
Selection of Plus Tree Based on Growth Performance and Fiber Morphology Characteristics as Improved Sources for Propagation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis
AUTHORS:
Nozad Ali Qader, Nor Aini Ab Shukor, Adlin Sabrina Muhd. Roseley
KEYWORDS:
Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Tree Improvement; Growth Characteristics; Fiber Morphology
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.9,
April
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: One of the most
successful techniques in planting trees is tree improvement in which trees with
high qualities are selected for mass plantation. This study seeks to identify
good properties of Eucalyptus camaldulensis through selective phases.
Sixty Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees (30 ten-year-old and 30 five-year-old)
were randomly selected through stratified sampling from two plantation sites in
Kurdistan region, North of Iraq. The trees were examined for fiber morphology
and quality parameters such as height, number of branches, diameter and
straightness. In the first phase of property selection, sixteen trees with high
rank in growth properties and fiber morphology were selected. In the final
phase of selection, the selected trees were re-examined according to the number
of properties and fiber morphology features and seven trees with the highest
number of good parameters were chosen. The 7 selected trees had higher
qualities in growth characteristics and fiber morphology compared with the
other trees in the sample. This article reports on a selection method for E.
camaldulensis trees through tree improvement techniques. The results of the
study indicates that high genotype qualities were identified among both 5- and
10-year-old E. camaldulensis trees as the final selection consisted of
three 5-year-old trees and four 10-year-old trees.