<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Phenotypic selection is commonly used in agroforestry, both in genetic improvement and as a component of “good practice” in seed collection. In the first case, the aim is to secure genetic gain. In the second case, selection is used to ensure that seed supplies meet given minimum quality standards, or that poor quality sources are avoided. Here we examine the effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural forest stands of the Amazonian timber and multipurpose tree <italic>Calycophyllum spruceanum</italic> Benth.. We ask (a) whether mothertrees with high estimated annual height and diameter increments had faster growing progeny than mothertrees with low values; (b) whether forked mother-trees tended to have higher proportions of forked progeny than unforked trees; (c) whether spatially isolated mother-trees tend to produce slower growing progeny than mother-trees growing together with conspecifics. In each case, we found no evidence of differences between the respective groups. We offer explanations for these findings and discuss their implications for tree improvement and seed collection.</p></abstract>

Phenotypic selection is commonly used in agroforestry, both in genetic improvement and as a component of “good practice” in seed collection. In the first case, the aim is to secure genetic gain. In the second case, selection is used to ensure that seed supplies meet given minimum quality standards, or that poor quality sources are avoided. Here we examine the effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural forest stands of the Amazonian timber and multipurpose tree Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.. We ask (a) whether mothertrees with high estimated annual height and diameter increments had faster growing progeny than mothertrees with low values; (b) whether forked mother-trees tended to have higher proportions of forked progeny than unforked trees; (c) whether spatially isolated mother-trees tend to produce slower growing progeny than mother-trees growing together with conspecifics. In each case, we found no evidence of differences between the respective groups. We offer explanations for these findings and discuss their implications for tree improvement and seed collection.

The effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural populations: a case study from the Peruvian Amazon

Agroforestry and Novel Crops Unit, School of Marine and Tropical Biology

Silvae Genetica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Phenotypic selection is commonly used in agroforestry, both in genetic improvement and as a component of “good practice” in seed collection. In the first case,...

The effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural populations: a case study from the Peruvian Amazon

Published Online: Aug 05, 2017

Page range: 205 - 209

Received: Sep 03, 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2011-0027

Keywords
progeny-test, tree domestication, tree improvement, seed collection, tropical rainforest

© 2011 J. P. Cornelius et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The effectiveness of phenotypic selection in natural populations: a case study from the Peruvian Amazon

Published Online: Aug 05, 2017

Page range: 205 - 209

Received: Sep 03, 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2011-0027

Keywordsprogeny-test, tree domestication, tree improvement, seed collection, tropical rainforest

© 2011 J. P. Cornelius et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
progeny-test, tree domestication, tree improvement, seed collection, tropical rainforest