Tree Growth Research Articles

Pillar tree architecture increases canopy light interception and impacts fruit quality in European plum

ABSTRACT Previous studies demonstrated silencing TILLER ANGLE CONTROL 1 (TAC1), a gene promoting outward shoot growth, via RNA interference (RNAi), caused upright branch orientations and pillar architectures in nonbearing ‘President’ plum. To evaluate the impact of the pillar trait on mature tree growth, canopy light environment, and fruit quality, we compared bearing trees of two RNAi lines with reduced TAC1 expression to the untransformed control sharing the same parental background over 2 years. The upright shoot growth habits and pillar tree shapes persisted in 9-year-old plum of RNAi lines 5 years following the first report. Canopy light interception of pillar trees was 2-fold greater than that of control. Between the RNAi lines, the consistent differences in fruit firmness suggest potentially different ripening rates, but within the range of variation expected for plum. Fruit of pillar trees did not exhibit increases in size or soluble solids compared to controls; however, skin hues were more uniform and closer to red, indicating enhanced overcolour development. Our results suggest that upright shoot growth in plum allows improved light interception and may lead to enhanced fruit colouration, which can greatly reduce the need for intensive pruning and thereby minimise the associated labour and cost while boosting fruit marketability.

Effect of some growth substances application on growth and seasonal yield of acid lime trees (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in Delta

This work aims to investigate the impact of chitosan and hydrogen peroxide on the growth and seasonal yield of lime trees cultivated in commercial orchards in Qalyubiyya Governorate, Egypt, during the 2021 & 2022 seasons. The treatments include foliar spraying of two concentrations of CHI (100 & 200 ppm) and H2O2 (2 & 4 cm/L), either individually or in combination, at two distinct times, one month after fruit set (1st week of September) and after two months. The hypothesis was that applying chitosan and hydrogen peroxide would improve tree growth, fruit quality, and total production. The obtained results indicated that the combinations of CHI with H2O2 improved tree growth, leaf mineral composition, seasonal yield, and fruit quality parameters. CHI at 200 ppm + H2O2 at 4 cm/L was the most efficient treatment and achieved the largest tree canopy. Treatment of 100 ppm CHI with 2 cm/L H2O2 showed superior yield in terms of tree yield (23.56 & 29.64 kg/tree), total production (8.15 & 9.16 t/ha) compared to other treatments. Likewise, combinations of CHI and H2O2 improved fruit characteristics. Findings of this study demonstrated that the foliar application of CHI with H2O2 could be a promising application to improve seasonal lemon yield and fruit quality in commercial orchards.

Light competition affects how tree growth and survival respond to climate

Abstract Competition between individuals is a key process that drives tree growth and survival in forests. Ecological theories predict that the effect of competition should be weaker in stressful environments. However, quantitative studies have failed to reach a consensus on the direction of the interaction between climate and competition. In this study, we demonstrate that this interaction appears clearly when we explicitly focus on light competition. We analysed the effect of light competition on tree growth and survival along both temperature and aridity gradients for the 33 major European tree species. We collected forest inventories from nine European countries, encompassing over 1 million trees from Spain to Scandinavia. We used species‐specific crown allometric equations to connect this extensive database to the SamsaraLight ray tracing model and to calculate a tree‐based light competition index from the light intercepted by the tree crown. Within a given species' climatic niche, the effect of light competition on tree growth and survival decreased towards both the dry and cold margins, supporting the stress gradient hypothesis. Climate mainly affected tree growth in light, with slower growth in drier or colder conditions. In contrast, for survival, climate mainly affected trees in shade, with better survival in the dry or cold stress margins. Among species, the mean sensitivity of tree growth and survival to light competition decreased with increasing mean aridity niche and shade tolerance of the species. Synthesis. Our study emphasises the importance of considering species‐specific interactions between light competition and climate on tree growth and survival. The impact of climate change on an individual tree is likely to depend on its light competition status within the forest stand, as well as its species‐specific climatic niche and shade tolerance.

Tradeoffs in growth and fuel reduction when using prescribed fire in young mixed conifer stands

BackgroundFollowing high-severity wildfires in conifer forests that rely on wind dispersal for regeneration, reforestation practices are used to hasten the development of large, fire-resistant trees that are better able to persist through the next fire. Planted forests, however, are particularly prone to high-severity wildfire effects for the initial decades following their establishment. This vulnerability suggests the need for surface fuel reduction treatments in the early stages of stand development. Such treatments would be aligned with the disturbance regime of frequent-fire forests and could also hasten the development of multi-aged structures dominated by fire-resistant trees. Conventional treatments early in stand development include shrub competition reduction and precommercial thinning, but prescribed fire is typically avoided. To assess the potential for inclusion of prescribed fire in young stand management, we investigated how four different treatments—mastication, mastication plus herbicide, two prescribed burns, and mastication plus two burns—affected individual and stand-level growth versus fuel loads in young mixed-conifer plantations in the north-central Sierra Nevada, CA, USA.ResultsTotal surface fuel load more than doubled over 5 years in the mastication only and mastication plus herbicide treatments. Fuel accumulation was avoided in the two treatments that included prescribed fire. Stand growth was similar across the mastication only, mastication plus herbicide, and mastication plus burn treatments. Stand growth was lowest in the burn only treatment. The mastication plus herbicide treatment maximized individual tree growth, especially for white fir and incense-cedar. Individual tree growth was similar among the burn only, mastication only, and mastication plus burn treatments.ConclusionsMastication followed by repeated prescribed burning could be a viable management strategy to reduce wildfire hazard without sacrificing growth in young mixed-conifer stands that are entering a vulnerable stage of fire risk. Mastication in combination with herbicide may facilitate the growth of large, fire-resistant trees, but does not address surface fuel buildup. The use of fire alone can effectively reduce fuels, but stand growth may be somewhat low relative to mastication and herbicide. Incorporating prescribed fire is a promising approach for protecting planted stands from high-severity fire while transitioning them into multi-aged structures. Gap-based silvicultural systems that facilitate the development of multi-cohort stands can also use prescribed fire broadly in order to restore heterogeneity and low surface fuel loads.

A simple competition model can predict rainforest tree diversity, species abundance and ecosystem functions

Abstract The coexistence of tree species in tropical forests has remained challenging to explain, characterise and predict with simple theoretical models. To address this phenomenon researchers have focused on processes and factors omitted in simple competition models. Meantime, theoretical considerations of simple models have sought out conditions for stable coexistence of many species. Here we show that a simple competition model parameterised by repeated forest tree inventory data can estimate the stable coexistence of numerous tree species and predict their biomass abundance and productivity in equilibrium communities. We apply a simple Lotka–Volterra competition model to describe species aboveground biomass, and employ leaf biomass as a proxy for exploitative competition among species. In such systems a globally stable multispecies equilibrium arises when, for every species, susceptibility of biomass growth to conspecific (same species) leaf biomass exceeds that to heterospecific leaf biomass. We applied this approach to tree species in the Pasoh 50‐ha plot of Malaysian lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. We parameterised species aboveground biomass productivity by tree growth, by recruitment, and losses from tree mortality. Biomass gains minus losses yields the biomass growth of each species population. Using variation in leaf biomass among quadrat subplots, we estimated the susceptibility of productivity by tree growth to conspecific and heterospecific leaf biomass. Our model analyses with plot census data predicted the stable coexistence of 351 of the 487 tree species assessed. Susceptibility to conspecific versus heterospecific leaf biomass was greater across all species (median: 95 times). The implied effect of conspecific competition appears to reflect ontogeny, that is declining relative tree growth with tree size. The equilibrium biomasses for predicted persistent species were broadly similar to observations. Removal of species indicates that ecosystem biomass and productivity at equilibrium increases asymptotically with species richness. Synthesis. Our analyses with simple model provide a range of non‐trivial insights into tree species coexistence, community structure and ecosystem stability within a species‐rich rainforest. The insights available from such simple models provide references for a reassessment of the insights from more complex models and approaches.

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as natural stimulators of nitrogen uptake in citrus.

Improving nitrogen uptake efficiency by citrus in Mediterranean areas, where this crop predominates, is crucial for reducing ground-water pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability. This aligns with the Farm to Fork Strategy (European Green Deal) objectives, which aim to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers by up to 20% and to eliminate soil contamination from nitrogen entirely. In this context, exploring the potential of plant growth-promoting bacteria application to reduce nutrient inputs is a promising opportunity. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two Bacillus subtilis strains either individually inoculated or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on 15N-labeled fertilizer uptake efficiency and physiological parameters. Individual inoculations positively affected tree water potential, leaf chlorophyll concentrations (SPAD-values) and photosynthetic performance, enhancing tree growth. Fertilizer-15N use efficiency increased, as did phosphorus and potassium uptakes. Conversely, no response was observed in the trees co-inoculated with S cerevisiae. Therefore, PGPB can be considered an interesting means to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers in citrus orchards, minimizing the environmental impact and promoting sustainable production practices.

Peatland resilience and presence under national climate gradients: Implications for peatland restoration strategies.

Irish peatlands, while generally resilient, are significantly threatened by anthropogenic activities and climate change. Here we implement a mechanistic model to evaluate the impact of climate gradients on Irish Peatland Resilience at a national scale. We identify critical tipping points that signify shifts from peatland to forest ecosystems; assess how these shifts vary with climate change, and how they impact ecosystem carbon stores. In this approach we delineated the three main peatland types prevalent in Ireland: Low lying Atlantic blanket bogs, mountain blanket bogs, and raised bogs. Furthermore, the model outputs were used to derive a resilience index for each peatland type, providing an indication of their capacity to withstand environmental changes. Our results show that 21% of Ireland's area currently has a climate that can sustain existing rainwater-fed blanket bogs. Topography, including elevation and slope, also influences the distribution and vulnerability of peatland types, with raised bogs more susceptible to transitions in flatter areas. Additionally, Ireland's current climate potentially supports the formation of raised bogs over 63% of the land area. However, 16% of Irish landscapes are classified as sensitive for peatlands, where tree growth is likely to outcompete peatlands, making the natural formation of raised bogs from forests unlikely without extensive ecosystem management. These sensitive areas, already affected by ongoing environmental changes, may benefit from targeted conservation and restoration efforts to support their ecological and carbon storage functions. The insights from this research offer valuable guidance to help target national peatland restoration strategies. Ultimately, this study contributes to the broader goal of sustainable peatland management and preservation amidst changing environmental conditions.

The melatonin synthase-encoding gene ASMT mediates poplar resistance to drought stress and fungi Dothiorella gregaria.

In recent years, the increase in extreme climates, such as persistent high temperatures and drought, has adversely affected the growth and development of fast-growing trees. Melatonin (MT) plays an important role in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, yet there is a lack of research on the specific role of limiting enzyme genes for MT biosynthesis in fast-growing woody plants. In this study, we investigated the function of PtoASMT, a key rate-limiting enzyme encoding gene for MT biosynthesis, which can be induced by drought, salt, and the phytohormones ABA, SA and JA. Our results show that: (1) PtoASMT was widely expressed in all tissues of poplar, but was highly expressed in petioles, moderately expressed in roots, stems, shoots and young leaves, exhibiting a typical diurnal expression rhythm in leaves, with the encoded protein localized on chloroplasts; (2) the content of MT was significantly promoted in overexpressing PtoASMT transgenic poplar plants, but there were no obvious differences in their growth and development; (3) overexpressing PtoASMT plants exhibited stronger drought tolerance, accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS) under drought stress relative to wild-type plants, whereas knockout PtoASMT plants were more sensitive and accumulated more ROS; (4) overexpressing PtoASMT plants were more resistant to fungi Dothiorella gregaria than WT plants, while knockout plants showed higher sensitivity; meanwhile, the expression of disease resistance-related genes (PRs and JAZ10) was significantly altered. We conclude that PtoASMT enhances the resistance of poplar to drought and Dothiorella gregaria by mediating MT biosynthesis in poplar. These findings contribute to a better understanding the role of ASMT gene in MT accumulation and stress resistance in poplar.

Large-sized trees regulating the structural diversity-productivity relationships through shaping different productive processes in a tropical forest.

Forest structural diversity, a measurement indicating the spatial and size distribution of individual trees, is critical for forest productivity, which stems from the combination of different ecological processes, such as tree mortality, recruitment and growth. Here, we evaluated the relationship between structural diversity and productivity caused by different ecological processes, and tested the roles of different-sized trees in influencing this relationship in a Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) rainforest site on the Barro Colorado Island between 2000 and 2015. Generally, we found a negative relationship between structural diversity and forest productivity. Specifically, tree mortality-induced productivity loss increased, while tree recruitment-induced productivity gain decreased, with structural diversity. In addition, the structural diversity-productivity relationship varied with tree size, which was negative for small trees but positive for large trees. Furthermore, we revealed the important role of large-sized trees, which significantly promoted structural diversity but decreased productivity through increasing biomass loss. By disentangling the components of productivity, our results provide insights on the mechanism of the relationship between structural diversity and productivity, and highlight the role of large trees in shaping this relationship.

A centurial signature of anthropogenic nitrogen and carbon in California serpentine ecosystems

AbstractIncreasing anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) are major threats to ecosystems globally. Although atmospheric N deposition is likely affecting N cycling and community composition in California's serpentine ecosystems, a historical record of N inputs to vegetation has yet to be reconstructed for these nutrient‐limited biodiversity hotspots. For leather oak (Quercus durata var. durata), a foundational, serpentine‐endemic species, we investigated leaf N and C isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C) and leaf %N of herbarium and modern leaf samples collected from 1899 to 2009 from serpentine ecosystems in two study areas in California: Santa Clara County, and Lake and Napa Counties combined. We also evaluated tree ring growth over a similar time period in long‐lived leather oak individuals. Leaf δ15N and δ13C values decreased over time in both study areas, likely reflecting changes in the regional and local atmospheric N and C pools caused by human perturbation. However, leaf %N values and stem growth did not change over time with increasing N deposition, indicating that increasing atmospheric N deposition and CO2 concentration may not translate to increased N uptake or productivity in plants with conservative growth strategies, even in ecosystems thought to be N‐limited. In serpentine systems, this could competitively advantage nitrophilic invasive annual grasses and accelerate trends toward native species loss. While the rates of decline in leaf δ15N values were similar between study areas, rates of decline in leaf δ13C values were steeper in Santa Clara County, possibly reflecting its more urban environment. Herbarium samples combined with tree ring data can provide a valuable opportunity to explore the historical record of human‐induced changes in N and C cycling and their biotic impacts.

Species grouping and diameter growth of trees in the Eastern Amazon: Influence of environmental factors after reduced-impact logging

Species grouping and diameter growth of trees in the Eastern Amazon: Influence of environmental factors after reduced-impact logging

Mapping the social-ecological suitability of agroforestry in the US Midwest

Abstract Agroforestry practices offer the potential to increase agricultural sustainability, but their adoption remains limited, especially in some of the world’s most highly productive regions like the United States (US) Midwest. Integrated assessment of the environmental, social, and economic factors that determine agroforestry’s potential benefits and social acceptability is needed to effectively target agroforestry expansion. To meet this need, we used geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis to map agroforestry’s suitability across the US Midwest. We mapped priority areas where agroforestry is expected to reduce the risk of environmental degradation, provide productive tree growth, and be socially and economically viable. We show that integrating social and economic factors dramatically shifted priorities compared to an environmental-only suitability assessment. Using COMET-Planner, we estimated that expanding agroforestry to the top 5% most suitable land from our analysis (totaling 18.3 million acres) has the potential to store 43 [29–58] Mt of CO2e per year over the business-as-usual scenario. Our integrated approach can help stakeholders identify target areas for agroforestry and provides a theoretical foundation for interdisciplinary suitability mapping that can be adapted for use in other global regions.

The altitude shapes the heterogeneity of tree growth by modulating the soil characteristics and microorganisms in the Calocedrus macrolepis plantation

The altitude shapes the heterogeneity of tree growth by modulating the soil characteristics and microorganisms in the Calocedrus macrolepis plantation

Variability increased underneath growth enhancement of Mongolian pine natural forests in northeastern China in response to climate change

Clarifying tree growth variability in response to long-term climate change and short-term climate extremes is crucial for predicting future trends of forest performances. With climate change accompanied by more frequent climate extremes, tree mortality has been recently observed in the natural distribution areas of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), an important species used for afforestation in water-limited environments of northern China. However, the growth dynamics of the naturally grown pine trees and their associations with climate change are not well understood. We combined tree-ring and remote sensing approaches to investigate long-term growth performances and their responses to climate change from tree individual to landscape scales of Mongolian pine natural forests in a water-limited region in northeastern China. We found that the tree-ring width index (RWI) was highly correlated (r = 0.927, P < 0.0001) with satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during growing season (May-September) and both metrics consistently showed an obvious increasing trend in recent two decades, indicating enhancements of growth and their strong associations at both individual tree and landscape scales. However, long RWI time series also revealed obviously greater variations in radial growth (reflected by increased coefficient of variation) and lower resilience to potential disturbances (higher first-order antocorrelation) underneath such enhanced growth during the past two decades than earlier periods. RWI was found to be positively influenced by water-related climate factors (i.e., precipitation, relative humidity and drought index-SPEI) and negatively affected by temperature during growing season, which were further corroborated by similar relationship patterns between these climate variables and NDVI. Such impacts seemed to have strengthened over time, particularly at short time scales, which likely contribute to the increased growth variability with increasing climate extremes. Comprehensive examinations on growth performances of Mongolian pine natural forests through integrating multiple approaches imply that such forests would suffer from increasing growth instability and risks of die-off under climate change.

The intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic assessment of forest soil quality with multi-granularity qualitative information.

The soil quality of forest land is directly related to the growth of forest trees and the local ecological environment. This paper proposes an intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic aggregation method for heterogeneous linguistic assessment information, to solve the multi-index assessment problem containing heterogeneous linguistic information. Based on this method, the soil quality of forest land can be evaluated reasonably. Firstly, the multi-granularity heterogeneous linguistic terms are effectively transformed by the defined linguistic scaling function. Secondly, the formula of the deviation coefficient between linguistic terms is given. By fully considering evaluators' risk preferences, the intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic numbers are determined using this formula. Simultaneously, the assessment index's objective weight is obtained based on the distance calculation formula of intuitionistic fuzzy linguistics. Finally, the intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic multi-attribute assessment (IFLMA) method with heterogeneous linguistic assessment information is proposed. The numerical example is developed to illustrate the validity of the proposed method in assessing the soil quality of forest land. Comparative and sensitivity analyses prove that this method has unique advantages in processing heterogeneous linguistic assessment information.

Historical Roots of Heritage Horticulture in the Southern Coastal Plain of Israel

This study reconstructs the agricultural landscape of the southern coastal plain of late Ottoman and British Mandatory Palestine (today southwestern Israel) utilizing late 19th and early 20th century cartographic materials and aerial photographs. Immense human effort and ingenuity were required to maintain sustainable agricultural on the fringes of the desert. Given today’s increasingly severe climate crisis, the lessons drawn from these historical agricultural practices have particular resonance. The agricultural land use described in this work extended into the coastal dunes of the region where the shallow water table was exploited to create complex agricultural systems that enabled the growth of citrus trees, grapes, and other crops for export and trade. Aerial photos and maps reveal the critical aspects of this region’s neglected agricultural history. The stability and resilience of these systems, some of which are still in existence 76 years or more after they were abandoned, as seen in the survey conducted for this study, point to the importance of understanding and preserving this chapter of the region’s agricultural heritage. The unique varieties of fruit trees adapted to the local climate of the western Negev still have significant economic value and are threatened with extinction from rapid urban encroachment. The remnants of this tradition serve as historical testimony of a bygone agricultural era which was replaced by mechanized monoculture. The discussion centers on the ways n which the study of heritage agriculture in rapidly changing areas can contribute to the broader field of historical geography by reconstructing landscapes that preserve the knowledge and societal patterns of behavior of past communities for future generations.

Influence of mechanical stress on biomass allocation in three species (Pachira aquatica Aubl., Sextonia rubra (Mez) van der Werff and Simarouba amara Aubl.) with contrasting posture control mechanisms

Abstract Key message The posture control in Pachira aquatica, Sextonia rubra and Simarouba amara is achieved through contrasted mechanisms involving tensile stress in wood only, bark only or both. This study evidenced that the restoration of verticality does not imply an overall cost for trees but modifies growth kinetics and biomass allocation to organs and tissues, improving the posture control of the trees in the three species. Context All trees need a motor system to correct their position through the generation of asymmetric tensile stress around the stem, leading to active bending. In angiosperms, depending on the species, tensile stress is generated either in wood (tension wood), in bark or in both. Aims Here, we investigated how gravitropic stimuli (tilted stems without any movement) may affect growth and biomass allocation and whether this process depends on the posture control mechanism of the species. Methods Tree growth kinetics, final biomass allocation and wood and bark proportion, localisation and density were measured on young tilted plants and straight plants as controls. Pachira aquatica, Sextonia rubra and Simarouba amara were selected according to the location of their their motor system within bark only, wood only or both wood and bark, respectively. Results In response to tilting, trees from the three species increased their diameter and decreased their slenderness, but the total biomass (including stem and roots) was not different from that in the control trees, suggesting that reaction to artificial tilting does not imply a specific cost for the plant. However, the species exhibited strong differences in growth kinetics, in the amount and organisation of the tissues or in biomass allocation to different organs (root vs shoot, wood vs bark), adapted to the specificity of the posture control mechanisms and improving their motor function. Conclusion Whatever the posture control mechanism, uprighting does not modify the total biomass invested. However, allocation of biomass to different organs is strongly modified to obtain an efficient control of the posture.

The Effect of Tree Spacing on the Growth and Biomass of Wattle Trees in Northwestern Ethiopia

The wattle tree (Acacia mearnsii) is gaining importance as an exotic species in northwestern Ethiopia, providing ecological, environmental, and economic benefits, especially for fuelwood and charcoal production. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tree spacing on the growth and biomass of wattle trees. The study employed a randomized complete block design with three replications across three spacing treatments (0.5 m × 0.5 m, 1 m × 1 m, and 1.5 m × 1.5 m) in the Fagita district. Tree height and diameter measurements were taken at 12, 18, and 30 months post-planting from stands established in 2021. The results showed significant differences in tree height among the spacing treatments at 18 and 30 months. The closest spacing (0.5 m × 0.5 m) yielded the highest average tree heights of 32.12 cm, 84.86 cm, and 302.98 cm at 12, 18, and 30 months, respectively. At 18 months, the largest average diameter (1.22 cm) was found in the narrowest spacing (0.5 m × 0.5 m), whereas at 30 months, the widest spacing (1.5 m × 1.5 m) recorded the largest diameter (1.51 cm). Throughout the study, height, diameter, and average aboveground biomass exhibited an inverse relationship with spacing, with this effect diminishing as trees aged. Tree spacing significantly impacted average aboveground biomass at 18 months, with the densest spacing (0.5 m × 0.5 m) yielding the highest average aboveground biomass (1.97 kg at 18 months and 2.41 kg at 30 months). Average aboveground biomass increased as the trees matured. These findings suggest that closer spacing of A. mearnsii can enhance biomass production, positioning it as a promising candidate for energy generation. Leveraging these insights can optimize resource utilization while supporting global energy demands and reforestation initiatives aimed at carbon sequestration.

From Roots to Leaves: Tree Growth Phenology in Forest Ecosystems

From Roots to Leaves: Tree Growth Phenology in Forest Ecosystems

Single-Step GWAS Multi-Trait Threshold Linear Model for Growth Rate and Heteroblasty in Eucalyptus globulus

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is one of the most important species in the paper industry. Teratosphaeria nubilosa has affected plantations worldwide, infecting young foliage. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are essential to identify genomic segments associated with susceptibility to this disease. The inclusion of genomic strategies in breeding programs is key to the sustainability of the species. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with growth and heteroblasty (change from juvenile to adult foliage: ADFO) in a tree breeding population of E. globulus. Tree growth was measured as total height (TH) and diameter at breast height (DBH). All traits were evaluated at 14 and 21 months. A multi-trait threshold linear model was developed following the single-step genomic selection methodology. Genetic correlations (rg) and narrow-sense heritability (h2) for all traits were estimated. Windows of 0.2 Mb were used. Only the windows with an estimated variance greater than 1% were considered. The rg ranged from 0.51 to 0.97. The h2 was high for ADFO (0.83–0.84) and lower for HT (0.37) and DBH (0.53). In growth traits, no QTLs were found that explained more than 1% of the variance. However, two genomic regions related to ADFO were identified on chromosomes 3 and 11.