Growth and Genetic Improvement of Eucalyptus pellita in South Sumatra, Indonesia

摘要

Four sub-lines of open-pollinated progeny tests of Eucalyptus pellita from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia were established at PT. Musi Hutan Persada, South Sumatra, Indonesia to ascertain their growth potentials and genetic improvement for pulpplantations. In each sub-line, families tested came from the same provenance. The following sub-lines and families were included in the trials: North Kiriwo, PNG (39 families), South Kiriwo, PNG (48 families), Serisa Village, PNG (34 families) and Muting, Irian Jaya, Indonesia (50 families). Height and diameter growth were measured at 1,2, 5 and 7.5 years of age. At 7.5 years old, the mean height growth ranged from 24.1 to 25.8 ra, while that of diameter varied from 20.6 to 21.5 cm depending on sub-line. There were significant differences between families within sub-lines for height and diameter growth. Individual heritability estimates for height were moderate (0.10-0.29), while those of diameter were low to high (0.08-0.42). Comparable family heritabilily estimates ranged from 0.45 to 0.75 for height and from 0.48 to 0.77 for diameter. Genetic correlations between height and diameter growth were generally high (0.52-0.99). Age-age genetic correlations were high both for height (0.77-0.98) and diameter (0.59-0.99), indicating the opportunity for early selection. Starting at 3 years of age all sub-lines were progressively thinned to convert them into seedling seed orchards. Growth potential off. pellita vvas lower than that of Acacia mangiuni grown at the same site.