Early Selection of Improved Black Walnut Genotypes

Fine hardwood trees in the Central Hardwoods region of the United States are an important resource for the furniture, cabinetry, flooring, modular home, and paneling manufacturing industries. Consumers find wood from these trees to be very desirable because of quality factors such as grain, strength and color. To enhance wood production, tree improvement programs can address quantity and quality issues through alterations in genetic traits for growth and vigor, straightness, defects such as pin knots and irregular grain, amount of heartwood and in some cases, wood color.