The Half-sib Family Progeny Test and Excellent Family Selection of Liquidambar formosana
The growth traits of 6-year-old half-sib progeny were investigated and analyzed , and the results indica-ted that there existed significant differences in tree height , DBH, crown volume among different families , and var-iation coefficient of each trait was above 28 %.The range of variation of tree height , DBH, and crown volume were 0.6~7.9 m, 0.5~8.8 cm, 0.30~4.70 m respectively.In generally, the growth expression of progeny was good.The family heritability of tree height , DBH and crown volume was 47.24%, 45.28%, 20.59%.The tree height and DBH were under moderate genetic control , while the crown volume was under weak genetic con-trol.Genetic variation coefficient of tree height , DBH and crown volume was 7.82%, 7.84%, 4.86%.Genetic variation capacity of the first two traits was high , which provided material basis to select and breed excellent fami-lies.13 excellent families were selected on the basis of comprehensive assessment , and their average of tree height were 3.92 m, their genetic gain were 6.96 %, their average of DBH were 4.13 cm, and their average genetic gain were 7.16%.The selected excellent families could be reserved in germplasm gene pool or popularized cultiva -tion after regional test and assessment.