Quantitative genetic analysis of wood property traits in biparental population of Eucalyptus camaldulensis x E. tereticornis

Eucalyptus breeding programme mainly aims at increasing productivity associated with wood property traits which are suitable for different end uses. The principal challenge in this endeavor is to combine productivity with industrially relevant wood traits. In the present study, 23 hybrid clones derived from a biparental mapping population of Eucalyptus camaldulensis x E. tereticornis was assessed for six wood property traits across two sites in Tamil Nadu, India. The mean of most of the traits evaluated was consistently higher in Muthupettai, indicating significant site effect. Combined and location-wise analysis indicated additive genetic control of assessed traits. The stability of acoustic velocity in study sites, negligible G x E interaction and significant correlation with dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMoE) implies its use in selecting trees/logs for solid wood properties. Combined analysis of locations revealed low to moderate heritability (0.294–0.439) for all the traits with H 2 being highest for cellulose per cent (0.439) followed by acoustic velocity (0.416). Genetic advance was calculated and was the highest for diameter (10.47%) followed by DMoE (9.19%). The two major chemical constituents of wood, namely total lignin and cellulose per cent showed 7.13% and 7.53% advancement in the hybrids. The out-performance of several hybrid clones when compared to the parents for different wood traits reiterates the use of Eucalyptus hybrids in plantation programmes to improve quality of raw material suitable for industrial application.