User:Conuco/Tree breeding

Tree breeding involves understanding and using the variation present in populations of trees. This is accomplished through:


 * 1) Defining the breeding objective; that is, a list of traits to be improved together with their relative economic importance.
 * 2) Once we know the list of traits to be targeted, it is possible to start selecting superior trees.
 * 3) Trees are mated to produce progeny, which is used to establish progeny tests.
 * 4) Based on the results from the progeny tests, the very best trees are selected and multiplied.

Progeny testing allows breeders to:
 * Understand the variability of the population.
 * Estimate genetic parameters, like heritability for each trait, and genetic correlations between traits.
 * Predict the genetic worth of trees.

Once superior trees are generated and identified, they are multiplied by either sexual or asexual means to be planted in operational plantations.

Tree superiority is based on fitness for purpose. Thus, we first need to have an objective that can be used to evaluate which tree is the best. That is, if we can improve several traits which traits should we emphasise more? This problem is covered under the definition of breeding objectives.