Tree Breeding And Improvement Theory And Technology

Tree Breeding and lmprovement is gaining significant attention and attraction across the country as a scientific tool to enhance the productivity and wood quality besides facilitating conservation of Forest Genetic Resources. The science of Tree Breeding is comparatively young but extended greater scope in the recent past in operational plantation development programme. The Tree Breeding and lmprovement has been incorporated as a subject in Under Graduate as well as Post graduate degree programme in Forestry offered at various State Agricultural Universities of the country. The existing text books on Tree Breeding are very limited and the practical aspects of tree breeding have not been evidenced in most books. The students and the tree breeding scientists require a comprehensive text book incorporating all theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding. Accordingly the current book entitled “TREE BREEDING AND IMPROVEMENT - THEORY AND TECHNlQUES” has been designed with 18 chapters. The basic and fundamental aspects of tree breeding have been presented in chapter 1. The chapters 2 and 3 elaborate the Center’s of origin and pollination mechanism of trees. The theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding methods, hybrid development, genetic tests and their biometric analysis have been presented with suitable field level examples from chapter 4 to 9. Incorporation of Seed orchard, clonal forestry, Exotic Forestry and Forest Biotechnology with -the-state-of-art- recent development will find greater utility by the students and researchers. Above all, the chapters on Varietal Developmental Process, Variety Registration and Organizations involved in tree breeding will have profound utility. ln a holistic perspective, the information furnished in the book will act as a great piece of information to the graduating scholars to understand theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding towards satisfying their academic needs besides applying them in tree breeding research. For the scientists and teaching faculties, the book will act as a ready reckoner not only for reference but also to apply them in all field level applications.

Contributed articles.

General Concepts of Tree Improvement. Variation and Its Use. Provenance, Seed Source, and Exotics. Quantitative Aspects of Forest Tree Improvement. Selection in Natural Stands and Unimproved Plantations. Seed Production and Seed Orchards. Use of Tree Improvemente in Natural Forests and in Stand Improvement. Selection and Breeding for Resistance to Diseases, Insects, and Adverse Environments. Vegetative Propagation. Hybrids in Tree Improvement. Wood and Tree Improvement. Advanced Generations and Continued Improvement. Gain and Economics of Tree Improvement. The Genetic Base and Gene Conservation. Developing Tree Improvement Programs.

Introduction to Forest Genetics examines some of the basic genetic concepts typically used in forestry and tree improvement studies, including Mendelian and population genetics. It also describes techniques that are generally useful in tree improvement work, including individual tree selection and breeding, provenance testing, species and racial hybridization, and introduction of exotics. Organized into 19 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of forest genetics and problems associated with forest genetics. It then discusses concepts from basic genetics, including chromosome structure and function; DNA and RNA; nongenetic inheritance; and genotype versus phenotype. Other chapters focus on inbreeding: complete elimination of homozygous recessive trees; mutation and migration; and controlled pollination and vegetative propagation. The book also covers the establishment and measurement of test plantations; general principles and methods of selective breeding; choice of breeding method and type of seed orchard; heritability and genetic gain; geographic variation in Scotch pine and American trees; species and racial hybridization; chromosome studies; and polyploidy and haploidy breeding. This book is a valuable resource for foresters, professional tree breeders, and those with or without previous training in genetics or forestry.