Genetic variation in Pinus taeda wood properties predicted using non-destructive techniques

Tree breeders have been reluctant to include wood traits in tree improvement programs owing to logistic difficulties and the cost associated with the assessing the traits. We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two non-destructive techniques for genetic parameters estimation in three diallel test series of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The traits were measured by acoustics (velocity, stiffness) and predicted by calibration models based on near infrared (NIR) spectra (air-dry density, microfibril angle, modulus of elasticity, coarseness, wall thickness). Acoustic and NIR-predicted traits were not correlated with diameter based on 30 full-sib family means of each diallel series. Correlations between traits were in accordance with previous published results. Additive genetic variation was considerable for all traits. Specific combining ability variances were not significant. The traits predicted by acoustic and NIR methods had high narrow-sense individual tree and family mean heritability values. Individual tree narrow sense heritability ranged from 0.14 (tracheid coarseness) to 0.92 (air-dry density). As expected, family mean heritability values of most traits exceeded 0.80. The high heritabilities suggest that acoustic and NIR-based methods can efficiently be used for screening loblolly pine progeny tests for surrogate wood traits. Such methods can save considerable resources in tree breeding programs that aim to improve wood quality.