Breeding for high production of leaves of baobab (Adansonia digitata L) in an irrigated hedge system

TY - JOUR

T1 - Breeding for high production of leaves of baobab (Adansonia digitata L) in an irrigated hedge system

AU - Korbo, Adama

AU - Kjær, Erik Dahl

AU - Sanou, Haby

AU - Ræbild, Anders

AU - Jensen, Jan S.

AU - Hansen, Jon Kehlet

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - This study presents an evaluation of an irrigated "market garden" trial established with 3-month-old seedlings of baobab. The trial included offspring from 59 open-pollinated family lots from ten provenances and four bulked provenance sample lots. Leaf productivity and seedling growth were evaluated monthly from the third month after establishment. We found lowered leaf productivity during the dry season despite the plants being irrigated. We provide the first estimates of heritability for leaf production and growth of the species. We assumed that the families of seed from open-pollinated single trees consist of true half-sibs but also provided adjusted estimates assuming a high level of selfing. Differences among provenances and families within provenances were highly significant (p < 0. 01) with respect to leaf productivity. Heritability estimates (adjusted and non-adjusted) for leaf productivity were moderate to low, predicting moderate genetic gain from selection. Strong genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated between diameter and leaf production, indicating that simple selection for diameter can efficiently increase leaf production. The dry weight/fresh weight ratio was not significantly different among provenances or families within provenances. Based on the findings, we discuss how breeding can increase the total leaf production and its seasonal distribution.

AB - This study presents an evaluation of an irrigated "market garden" trial established with 3-month-old seedlings of baobab. The trial included offspring from 59 open-pollinated family lots from ten provenances and four bulked provenance sample lots. Leaf productivity and seedling growth were evaluated monthly from the third month after establishment. We found lowered leaf productivity during the dry season despite the plants being irrigated. We provide the first estimates of heritability for leaf production and growth of the species. We assumed that the families of seed from open-pollinated single trees consist of true half-sibs but also provided adjusted estimates assuming a high level of selfing. Differences among provenances and families within provenances were highly significant (p < 0. 01) with respect to leaf productivity. Heritability estimates (adjusted and non-adjusted) for leaf productivity were moderate to low, predicting moderate genetic gain from selection. Strong genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated between diameter and leaf production, indicating that simple selection for diameter can efficiently increase leaf production. The dry weight/fresh weight ratio was not significantly different among provenances or families within provenances. Based on the findings, we discuss how breeding can increase the total leaf production and its seasonal distribution.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877717814&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11295-013-0595-y

DO - 10.1007/s11295-013-0595-y

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84877717814

SN - 1614-2942

VL - 9

SP - 779

EP - 793

JO - Tree Genetics & Genomes

JF - Tree Genetics & Genomes

IS - 3

ER -