The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different methods of selection in growth traits and early selection. Individual total height and stem diameter at 30 cm above the ground in close-spaced early genetic evaluation at 16 months were assessed. In a 84 month sib cohort, as a comparison, height and diameter at breast height were evaluated. Phenotypic and genetic parameters for height and diameter were estimated for 48 open-pollinated families of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) planted in Southern Brazil using an individual tree model. In this retrospective study, the indirect selection was of similar effectiveness as direct selection in stem diameter (93%) and less effective in height (78%). The two-stage successive culling process was 16% (height) and 28% (diameter) more efficient than the direct selection. The combined selection enhanced the accuracy of mature selection and increased expected genetic gain for diameter. Selecting 20 parents with the highest breeding values predicted by BLUP, at 16 and 84 months, attained a genetic gain of 7.6% and 8.1% in stem diameter. The strong age-age genetic correlation indicated that diameter was highly correlated to genetic level which implies that growth at 84 months could be improved by early selection of diameter at 16 months. This will provide quicker genetic gains by offering improved seeds earlier.
forest trees; genetic correlation; genetic gain; plant breeding
