Variation of basic density in offspring families of Abies sachalinensis

The low wood density of Abies sachalinensis in plantation is an important p roblem. To explore the possibility for genetic improvement of low wood dens ity, growth and wood quality of 32-year-old open-pollinated families and 16 -year-old control-pollinated families of A. sachalinensis were investigated . Analyses of variance were performed to estimate genetic variation. Differen ces among sample families were statistically significant of D-3,D-6 (diamet er at 3.6 m height), basic density (B-d) of the core wood and the outer woo d, average ring width (A(rw)) of the outer wood of the open-pollinated fami lies, and for tree height, diameter at breast height. B-d, A(rw) and dynami c modulus of elasticity by longitudinal vibration of the control-pollinated families. In the open-pollinated families, the B-d of the outer wood showe d a significant positive correlation with that for the core wood. but the A (rw) of the outer wood showed no significant correlation with that for the core wood. In the control-pollinated families, correlation coefficients for parent-offspring relations were 0.583 for B-d which were significant at th e 5% level. Narrow sense habitability for B-d estimated from parent-offspri ng regressions was 0.58. while the A(rw) for parent trees showed no signifi cant correlation with that of the offspring. The results indicated that the B-d of A. sachalinensis might be a genetic trait and could be improved usi ng genetic manipulation.