Quambalaria shoot blight resistance in marri (Corymbia calophylla): genetic parameters and correlations between growth rate and blight resistance

Abstract Quambalaria shoot blight (QSB) has emerged recently as a severe disease of Corymbia calophylla (marri). In this study, QSB damage and growth were assessed in trees at 4 6 years age two common gardens consisting 165 170 open-pollinated families representing 18 provenances across the species’ natural distribution. There significant differences between for all traits. The narrow-sense heritability traits both sites low to moderate. genetic correlation was negative; fast-growing less damaged by disease. Age-age correlations individual four six very strong, type-B (site–site) strongly positive Provenances from cooler wetter regions showed higher resistance QSB. incidence significantly correlated with environmental factors provenance’s origin. not expression 3-month-old seedlings. Based on these results, selection could be undertaken using 4-year-old trees. is potential breeding program develop populations marri genetically diverse resistant