Performance and variability patterns in wood properties and growth traits in the parents, F1 and F2 generation hybrid clones of Populus deltoides

The performance and variability patterns in the wood element’s dimensions, specific gravity and growth parameters namely ramet height and GBH were evaluated in 16 clones of parents, F1 and F2 hybrids of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. Ramet radial variations were nonsignificant, while inter-clonal variations due to interaction of clone/replication were significant for all the wood traits except vessel element length. Inter-clonal variations were significant only for fiber length and fiber wall thickness. Fiber length and specific gravity were significantly higher in female, while wall thickness and vessel element length were higher in male clones. Female parents (G48 and S7C8) showed higher fiber length and specific gravity than of the male parent (G3), while vessel diameter and wall thickness were higher in male par- ent (G3). There is not much difference in fiber length and vessel element’s dimensions among the parents, F1 and F2 generation hybrid clones. Specific gravity did not showed any trend for parents, F1 and F2 generations. Generally female clones showed higher growth rate. Broad sense heritability for wood traits ranged from 0.143 (fiber length) to 0.505 (fiber wall thickness), while for growth traits it was 0.374 (GBH) and 0.418 (height). Genetic gain for all the wood and growth traits was positive for most of the wood traits. The highly divergent male clone (78) and female clones (S7C8, G48, W/A 49) in number of combinations could be used for developing new hybrids of desired wood traits to develop new clones.