BREEDING OBJECTIVES FOR PULP PRODUCTION OF EUCALYPTUS-GLOBULUS UNDER DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL COST STRUCTURES

Breeding objectives were defined for pulp production of Eucalyptus glo bulus Labill, using a simple profit equation relating the monetary cos t savings per tonne of pulp produced with stem volume, wood density, a nd pulp yield. The economic importance of each trait was calculated fo r five different pulp and forestry industry scenarios with widely diff erent cost structures. Selection indices integrating various combinati ons of volume growth, wood density, and pulp yield were compared for t heir ability to meet the different breeding objectives. There was surp rising consistency in results across the range of breeding objectives and cost structures studied. It was clear that selection indices integ rating volume, wood density, and pulp yield gave the most accurate sel ection and maximized genetic gain in breeding objectives. The cost sav ings from indices that included only volume were always much less than one-half, and sometimes as low as one-quarter, as much as those from indices integrating volume and wood traits. In the case study consider ed, E. globulus in Portugal, these cost savings had substantial implic ations for company profitability.