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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (6): 120-129.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240413

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Family-Environment Interaction and Key Influencing Factors of Growth Traits of Cupressus funebris

Haobo Zhao1,2,Zhongping Feng3,Chengzhong Zheng4,Yongbin Qiu4,Linhui An5,Guoqing Jin2,zhen Zhang2,*()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding Northeast Forestry University Harbin 150040
    2. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry Chinese Academy of Forestry Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding Hangzhou 311400
    3. Laoshan Forest Farm, Zhejiang Chun’an County Forestry General Field Co. Ltd Chun’an 311700
    4. Kaihua Forest Farm of Zhejiang Province Kaihua 324300
    5. Taizi Mountain Forest Farm Administration of Hubei Province Jingshan 431822
  • Received:2024-07-05 Online:2025-06-10 Published:2025-06-26
  • Contact: zhen Zhang E-mail:zhenzh19860516@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to reveal the genetic variation patterns of growth traits in open-pollinated families of Cupressus funebris (cypress), and assess the magnitude and mode of family and environment effects, and their interaction. Method: This study targeted the 8-year-old open-pollinated families of cypress established in three different environmental conditions in Kaihua (KH) forest station in Kaihua County, Shibawu (SBW) forest station in Chun’an County of Zhejiang Province, and Taizishan (TZS) forest station in Jingshan County of Hubei Province. The genetic variation patterns of growth traits were analyzed, and the parameters such as breeding values and heritability were estimated, and hereby to screen for families with rapid growth and strong stability, and to explore the impact of the main environmental factors at the experimental sites on the growth of cypress. Result: The genetic variation coefficients of growth traits (tree height, diameter at breast height, individual tree volume, and crown width) of cypress families ranged from 11.64% to 21.20%, with the greatest variation in individual tree volume. There were significant differences in the growth traits among sites, and among families, and the volume per plant of TZS was 124.64% and 171.93% higher than that of KH and SBW, respectively. The variation ranges of family heritability of KH, SBW and TZS were 0.30–0.73, 0.22–0.51 and 0.75–0.87, respectively. The independent culling method was used to select 2, 1, and 3 superior families respectively in the KH, SBW and TZS sites, with the top 20% of breeding values for diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height as the criterion, and the genetic gains in individual tree volume ranged from 25.87% to 59.00%. The 7, 7, and 6 elite individual trees were selected from the KH, SBW, and TZS sites, respectively, based on a selection rate of 3% on phenotypic values for DBH and tree height, and the gains in individual tree volume ranged from 181.98% to 355.53%. Multivariate variance analysis and genetic parameters across multiple sites indicated that there was a significant family by environment (G×E) interaction effect on family growth traits. The variation range of B-type genetic correlation coefficients was from 0.05 to 0.71. Based on the BLUP-GGE biplot analysis of DBH and tree height, family 3, 7, and 12 were comprehensively selected as fast-growing and stable families, with an average individual tree volume gain of 27.74%. Key environmental factors such as sunlight duration, rainfall, soil exchangeable calcium content, soil organic matter content, soil available nitrogen, and soil acid-available phosphorus content at the experimental sites might be the critical factors affecting the growth of cypress. Conclusion: There is abundant variation in growth traits among cypress families, indicating that they are significant potential for genetic improvement. These traits are influenced by family genetics, environment, and G×E (genotype × environment) interaction. The comprehensive selection of fast-growing and stable families can provide a material basis for the promotion of cypress varieties across different locations.

Key words: Cupressus funebris, family, genetic variation, family × environment interactions, genetic selection

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