Genotype-environment interaction in a population of Pinus elliottii ENGELM. var. elliottii

Abstract

Five methods were used to investigate the importance of genotype-environment interaction in a progeny trial of Pinus elliottii ENGELM established on 3 sites in Zimbabwe. Although statistically significant for many traits at 5, 8 and 15 years, genotype-environment interaction was judged by a number of criteria to be of little practical importance. Heritabilities were lowest at the site at which environmental conditions were nearest to optimum for the species; individual-tree phenotypic selection was more efficient at the 2 off-site plantings where heritabilities were higher. The lack of important genotype-environment interaction in this population of P. elliottii has implications for testing and deployment strategies.