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Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement

• Introduction to Genetic Variation and Its Use
• Why study forest genetics and tree improvement?
• Overview of tree improvement programs worldwide
• Genetic vs environmental variation (P=G+E)
• Levels of genetic variation (e.g. among species, among geographic sources, among stands, among trees)

• The Nature and Transmittal of Genetic Material
• Genetic organization in cells (DNA, genes, and chromosomes)
• Transmittal of genetic material (mitosis and meiosis)
• Recombination and mutation
• Mendel's peas and trees (segregation and assortment)
• Non-independence between two genes (linkage and epistasis)
• Genes with multiple effects (pleiotropy)

• Genes in Populations
• Gene frequencies in populations (Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium)
• Mating systems and genotype frequencies (inbreeding)
• Forces that change gene frequencies (mutation, migration, selection, and drift)
• Evolution (natural selection and speciation)

• Quantitative Genetic Principles
• Quantitative traits and types of gene action
• Additive, dominant and epistatic effects of genes (breeding value)
• Types of genetic variances
• Resemblance between relatives and heritability concepts
• Pleiotropy and genetic correlations

• Genotype * Environment Interaction
• Environmental influences on genetic expression (P=G+E+GE)
• Concepts of statistical interactions (scale effects vs rank changes)
• Types of G*E (e.g. species*planting site, clone*fertilizer)
• Experimental designs and analysis for G*E
• Impact of G*E on heritability estimates (Type B correlations)

• The Breeding Cycle in Forest Trees
• A conceptual description of how all tree improvement programs work (principles and steps in common)
• Slash pine tree improvement example (large-scale program)
• Eucalyptus grandis example (smaller scale program)

• Geographic Variation: Concepts and Application
• Types & causes of geographic variation (races and clines)
• Quantifying geographic variation (experimental designs and clinal regression analyses)
• Choosing the proper seed source (factors to consider, risk vs gain, local vs non-local)
• Defining breeding units for tree improvement programs

• Selecting for Superior Genetic Quality: Concepts and Theory
• Determining genetic values and variances (P=G+E+GE revisited)
• Determining how much of the variation is genetic in origin (heritability concepts)
• Making progress via selection (genetic gain concepts)
• Selection methods (mass, family, etc)
• Choosing traits for a breeding program
• Selecting for more than one trait (tandem, independent culling and selection index)

• Selecting Superior Trees in Natural Stands
• Selecting in even-aged vs uneven-aged stands
• Different techniques (baseline, mother tree, subjective)

• Producing Genetically-Improved Propagules for Reforestation
• Collecting improved seed from natural stands (seed production areas and directed seed collections)
• Seedling and clonal seed orchards (concepts and designs)
• Rooted cuttings of families (radiata pine example)
• Clonal forestry (Eucalyptus grandis example)

• Genetic Testing in Forestry
• Reasons why field tests are planted (progeny testing, etc)
• Mating designs for field tests (open-pollinated, diallels, polymix, factorials, etc)
• Experimental designs for field tests

• Infusing New Genes and Hybridization
• Keeping a broad genetic base
• Infusing genes from the same species (new wild selections, wide crosses, merging breeding units, etc)
• Infusing genes from other species (hybridization)

• Breeding Strategy Development
• Breeding population size
• Breeding population structure
• Emphasis on elite material
• Slash pine example revisited and compared to loblolly pine
• Eucalyptus grandis example revisited with clonal option

WEEK 14

• Forest Health and Disease Resistance
• Concepts of disease resistance
• A case study: Fusiform rust in southern pines

• Roles of Vegetative Propagation in Tree Improvement Programs
• Types of vegetative propagation
• The clonal option (numbers of clones, mixtures vs pure clonal blocks)
• C-effects
• Uses of vegetative propagation in tree improvement programs