A Juvenile-Stage Genetic Test on the Open-Pollination Progenies from Pinus elliottii Engelm Seed Orchard

The genetic variation and genetic correlation on the main growth characters of height, diameter, volume and H/D of trees were analysed according to the data collected from 14 open-pollination progenies at seedling and juvenile stages from an elementary seed orchard of Pinus elliottii Engelm. The results of the test indicated that there were significant differences in the growth characters at the seedling and juvenile stages among the families, which were moderate or strong hereditary; there were close positive correlations in the height and diameter of all of the families among different years and the genetic correlations between the growth characters were also significant; the interaction between family and location was not significant; the volume-growth of three families which grow the fastest increased by 49.50% as compared with that of the check, and 26.37% could be reached in the genetic gain; three families of Pinus elliottii Engelm with fast growth and higher quality were selected through the comprehensive evaluation of their growths and qualities by the Index Selection Method.