Genetic Variation in Height and Diameter of Tamarack (Larix Laricind) and their Correlation with Syllepsis

Abstract

Bayor, H. 1996. Genetic variation in height and diameter of tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and their correlation with syllepsis. 62pp. Advisor. Dr. R. E. Farmer. Key words: Broad sense heritability, genetic correlation, age-age correlation, tamarack, Larix Laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch, syllepsis. The broad sense heritability of total height, annual height increment, diameter, volume index and syllepsis of 11 provenances of tamarack in northwestern Ontario were examined. Genetic and Pearson Product Moment correlations among these characters were also examined. Broad sense heritability ranged from 0.13 at age three to 0.36 at age 11 for total height among provenances. Broad sense heritability within individual provenances generally increased from age three to age 11 but showed no geographic trend. Genetic age-age correlation between total height at ages three and 11 was 0.61. Number of sylleptic long shoots at age three and four correlated better with height at age 11 than height at the early ages. Good correlation between height and diameter suggests that both height and diameter could be improved by selecting for total height.