Building population for conservation and improvement of Eucalyptus pilularis

• Grant number: 13/16941-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Forestry
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Henrique Muller da Silva
• Grantee: Paulo Henrique Muller da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Florestais (IPEF). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is featured in the forestry global sector by high productivity of the Eucalyptus genus. However, some species of this genus, even with great potential for commercial propose, not being worked properly and there are a risk of losing genetic basis over time. The basic purpose of selection is to enable the grouping and breeding to increase the number of individuals with desirable characteristics, which is dependent of the selection method and the genetic variability of the population. Eucalyptus pilularis is a species not currently worked, with good genetic base available in Brazil, which has good growth and has potential use for timber production. The objective of this proposal is select and group via progeny testing / provenance of Eucalyptus pilularis, genotypes available in Brazil, creating a germplasm bank with good genetic base. Will be select trees in six populations with different historical (origins, provenances and management) and climatic conditions. Will be doing: i) measurement of the populations; ii) selection of the best individuals; and iii) calculation of the genetic diversity and genetic distance among the individual selected trees in each population. For the genetic calculations will be used genetic co-dominant markers. The information will assist the composition of a progeny test / provenance that will be managed to compose the population of conservation and breeding. (AU)