Quantitative and molecular analysis of Pinus elliottii Engelm. at six years of age using microsatellites markers

Abstract

There are about 126 cataloged species within the Pinus genus, and the genus is the second most common in planted forests in Brazil, covering about 1.7 million hectares. Among the species used in commercial plantations, P. elliottii is particularly important; its wood is mainly used in the furniture industry, for resin production, and in some cases in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry for its volatile derivatives. The objective of this study was to conduct a quantitative and molecular analysis of six-year-old stands of P. elliottii at two sites, one located on Fazenda Monteiro in the city of Apia´ı, and the other on Fazenda Palmeiras, Ribeirao Branco, both located in São Paulo state (SP), Brazil. Height and circumference at breast height (CBH) were analyzed. Genetic parameters were estimated, with the coefficients of genetic variation for height ranging from 2.03% to 2.62% and from 2.43% to 4.51% for CBH. At Fazenda Monteiro, the narrow-sense heritability and within progeny heritability values for height (0.23; 0.20) and CBH (0.26; 0.22) were considered medium. In Fazenda Palmeira, the values obtained for narrow-sense heritability were considered low magnitude for CBH (0.04; 0.02), while for height they were considered medium (0.09). Low magnitude values were found for heritability within progeny (0.08). Molecular analyses of heterozygosity showed low levels of heterozygosity, but with the possibility of gains. The G×E data showed that progeny F30 performed best in both environments, but a breeding program for both environments is not recommended. The analysis of quantitative and molecular characteristics facilitates and improves the accuracy of selection processes performed by breeders.