Analysis of genetic effects on a complete diallel cross test of Betula platyphylla

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 200; no. 2; pp. 221 - 229
• Main Authors: Zhao, Xiyang, Bian, Xiuyan, Liu, Mengran, Li, Zhixin, Li, Ying, Zheng, Mi, Teng, Wenhua, Jiang, Jing, Liu, Guifeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.11.2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Analysis; analysis of variance; Betula platyphylla; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; general combining ability; genetic improvement; Genetic research; genetic techniques and protocols; Genetics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; growth traits; Life Sciences; parents; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; progeny; seed orchards; Studies; testcrosses; tree and stand measurements; trees; SCA; REC; Diallel cross; GCA; Diallel analysis; Woody plant; Betula platyphylla; Genetic determinism; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Genetic improvement; Spermatophyta; Betula; Betulaceae
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-014-1147-8

The study utilized the offspring of a 5 × 5 diallel cross of Betula platyphylla as the experimental material. Tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH) and stem straight degree (SSD) were measured at the fourth and eighth growth year (SSD were measured only in the eighth growth year). ANOVA analyses showed that growth traits in different growth years were significant among families (P < 0.01). There existed extremely significant correlations between H and DBH in the same year. Although the sequencing of average H and DBH of different families were vicissitudinous at the 4th and 8th year, there also existed significant correlations between H and DBH in different year. The general combining ability, special combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effect (REC) of different hybridized combinations were also different remarkably. The mean square of SCA was significantly higher than GCA, implied that the non-additive effect played major roles. When B5, B8 and MB15 were selected as parents, the offspring performed perfectly in traits of H, DBH and SSD at the eighth growth year respectively. B5 × XB11, B8 × XB11 and B8 × MB15 had highest SCA values in traits of H, DBH, and SSD at the eighth growth year respectively. Consequently, in order to achieve optimal outcomes, seed orchard building and clonal propagation should be considered simultaneously in birch’s genetic improvement process.