Integrating genomic information and productivity and climate-adaptability traits into a regional white spruce breeding program

Tree improvement programs often focus on improving productivity-related traits; however, under present climate change scenarios, climate change-related (adaptive) traits should also be incorporated into such programs. Therefore, quantifying the genetic variation and correlations among productivity and adaptability traits, and the importance of genotype by environment interactions, including defense compounds involved in biotic and abiotic resistance, is essential for selecting parents for the production of resilient and sustainable forests. Here, we estimated quantitative genetic parameters for 15 growth, wood quality, drought resilience, and monoterpene traits for Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce). We sampled 1,540 trees from three open-pollinated progeny trials, genotyped with 467,224 SNP markers using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). We used the pedigree and SNP information to calculate, respectively, the average numerator and genomic relationship matrices, and univariate and multivariate individual-tree models to obtain estimates of (co)variance components. With few site-specific exceptions, all traits examined were under genetic control. Overall, higher heritability estimates were derived from the genomic- than their counterpart pedigree-based relationship matrix. Selection for height, generally, improved diameter and water use efficiency, but decreased wood density, microfibril angle, and drought resistance. Genome-based correlations between traits reaffirmed the pedigree-based correlations for most trait pairs. High and positive genetic correlations between sites were observed (average 0.68), except for those pairs involving the highest elevation, warmer, and moister site, specifically for growth and microfibril angle. These results illustrate the advantage of using genomic information jointly with productivity and adaptability traits, and defense compounds to enhance tree breeding selection for changing climate.

Instituto de Recursos Biológicos

Fil: Cappa, Eduardo Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentina

Fil: Cappa, Eduardo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Klutsch, Jenifer G. University of Alberta; Department of Renewable Resources; Canada

Fil: Sebastian-Azcona, Jaime. University of Alberta; Department of Renewable Resources; Canada

Fil: Ratchiffe, Blaise. University of British Columbia. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; Canadá

Fil: Xiaojing, Wei. University of Alberta; Department of Renewable Resources; Canada

Fil: Da Ros, Letitia. University of British Columbia. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Wood Science; Canadá

Fil: Yang, Liu. University of British Columbia. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; Canadá

Fil: Chen, Charles. Oklahoma State University. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Estados Unidos

Fil: Benowicz, Andy. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Forest Stewardship and Trade Branch; Canadá

Fil: Sadoway, Shane. Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.; Canadá

Fil: Mansfield, Shawn D. University of British Columbia. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Wood Science; Canadá

Fil: Erbilgin, Nadir. University of Alberta; Department of Renewable Resources; Canada

Fil: Thomas, Barb R. University of Alberta; Department of Renewable Resources; Canada

Fil: El-Kassaby, Yousry A. University of British Columbia. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; Canadá