Genetic variation of microfibril angle and its relationship with solid wood and pulpwood traits in two progeny trials of <i>Eucalyptus nitens</i> in Tasmania

Abstract Microfibril angle (MFA) is a key biological trait contributing to wood stiffness, which common breeding objective for solid products in many tree species. To explore its genetic architecture, area-weighted MFA was measured two Eucalyptus nitens progeny trials Tasmania, Australia, with open-pollinated families. Radial strips were extracted from 823 trees 131 families and assessed using SilviScan-2 ® . Heritability, genotype-by-environment interaction inter-trait correlations evaluated examine the variability stability of relationships other pulpwood selection traits. Significant family variation found both trials. There no significant across-site narrow-sense heritability 0.27. genetically independent basic density, growth, form. However, strongly favourable correlated acoustic wave velocity standing trees, modulus elasticity kraft pulp yield (KPY). The present study has shown that improvement E. traits unlikely have adversely affected MFA, thus timber stiffness. Rather these results suggest possibility increased KPY may indirectly improved favourably products.