Many tree species can be found growing naturally in a wide range of environmental conditions. It is important to establish whether ‘between-tree’ differences in particular traits, both between and within stands, are due to the environment, to genetic differences or a combination of both. Provenance and progeny trials are field experiments that allow for an assessment of genetic variation and the selection of provenances, progenies and/or individuals with particular traits that are considered superior. A provenance trial is used to compare the performance of germplasm from different geographical locations, while progeny trials are used to compare the performance of specific mother trees or families within a provenance. Sometimes the two are put together (a number of families from a number of provenances are tested in a single trial). This unit illustrates these trials with reference to two local species important for timber production in Peru. Such trials are costly and can require significant time to yield useful results; proper planning of their design (see Unit 6) is therefore essential.
Publication year
2012
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
domestication, species, trees
Geographic
Kenya
