GENETIC GAIN FROM DIFFERENT SELECTION METHODS IN Eucalyptus macarthurii PROGENIES IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT The aims of this research was to estimate genetic parameters of Eucalyptus macarthurii progenies and to predict genetic gain for different selection methods. In order to evaluate the gains, eleven progenies tests were studied. These tests were installed in 1997, in randomized blocks design, in two sites, with 5 replicates of five plants per plot. The progenies were evaluated, from the first to the eighth year, regarding the variable diameter at breast height (DBH). The genetic parameters were estimated using the mixed model procedure (REML/BLUP). The selection of the progenies for establishing a Clonal Seed Orchard was based on the analysis by location, joint analysis and on the harmonic mean of the relative performance of genotypic values (HMRPGV) with different selection intensities among and within families: three, four, five and six individuals per progeny with the selection of the top 30 individuals, taking into consideration the effective population size (N e ). The best age to carry out the selection was seven years old, however, early selection can be made from age two onwards. Each environment characteristics influenced progenies phenotypic expression, so the higher gains in balance with N e , were estimated with the selection of individuals for each site, and the selection of five or six individuals per progeny.