Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a rapid, non-destructive method for the routine estimation of wood properties. NIR spectroscopy is increasingly being used to replace traditional methods of wood property assessment, and it provides a wealth of information to tree growers, tree breeders, and manufacturers of forest products. The technology is particularly well-suited to tree improvement...

In the 1990’s, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) initiated a domestication programme of indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) in Southern Africa to increase farmhousehold income through farmer-led tree planting and thus conserve bio-diversity. From the farmer's point of view planting domesticated IFTs is an investment under uncertainty and irreversibility. As timing of planting is flexible, real op...

Previous studies in Eucalyptus nitens have revealed favourable genetic correlations exist between acoustic wave velocity (AWV) in standing trees and modulus of elasticity (MOE), which can determine the suitability of trees for structural timber and/or engineered wood products. This study investigates the strength and stability of genetic variation in standing tree AWV across a range of environm...

Over the past fifty years, premature deaths have been associated with Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), the most economically important tree species in the USA. As a management strategy, stakeholders are deploying genetically superior families that have been selectively bred to be disease tolerant. Nevertheless, it is vital that we determine an optimum balance between disease tolerance and other pro...

some cerasus sub-genus wild species that are used as rootstocks in sour and sweet cherry propagation can also be employed in breeding programs. the aim of this study was to clearly evaluate some characteristics of subgenus cerasus genotypes to be used in the future cherries' breeding programs. in order to evaluate some morphological characteristics of the vegetative parts as well as seeds ...

The larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in Abeokuta, Nigeria in order to determine the breeding sites of the existing mosquito fauna and its possible public health implications on the residents of the City. The habitats were sampled between August 2005 and July 2006 using plastic dippers and a pipette. The habitats were grouped as ground pools/ponds, gutters/open drains, tyres, dome...

We present results of two large scale comparative studies of the genomic basis of resistance of Interior spruce to the white pine weevil. Both volume growth, the main objective of the spruce breeding program in British Columbia, and white pine weevil resistance, are examined. “Interior spruce” is a species complex involving mainly Picea glauca (White spruce) but introgressed with P. engelmannii...

Large progeny test networks are typical for conventional forest tree breeding programmes. The individual progeny tests differ with respect to age, composition and ability to screen the breeding values of the parent trees. Several approaches have been introduced to manage the unbalanced and diverse nature of the data generated by progeny tests. This report presents a procedure for ranking breedi...

Prediction is an attempt to accurately forecast the outcome of a specific situation while using input information obtained from a set of variables that potentially describe the situation. They can be used to project physiological and agronomic processes; regarding this fact, agronomic traits such as yield can be affected by a large number of variables. In this study, we analyzed a large number ...

Our goal was to document effects of year-round supplemental feeding on breeding ecology of the Buff-throated Partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii, within a Tibetan sacred site. We evaluated effects of supplemental feeding used as religious/cultural practices which could potentially aid conservation of endangered phasianids. We compared fed breeding groups to neighboring nonfed groups. Fed groups ...