ADVANCES IN A TREE WILLOW (Salix spp) BREEDING PROGRAM IN ARGENTINA FOR DIFFERENT WOOD APPLICATIONS

GRANDE JORGELINA; GARCIA, ARACELI; MONTEOLIVA SILVIA; THOMAS ESTEBAN ; BRACCINI CELINA; ACHINELLI, FABIO; AMICO IVANA; CERRILLO TERESA; BRATOVICH RICARDO; LUQUEZ, VIRGINIA; FERNANDEZ PATRICIA; FOSCO IGNACIO; VILLAVERDE RAUL

Berlín

Conferencia; IPC Meeting 2016; 2016

FAO

Tree willows are cultivated in Argentina fordifferent applications, mainly pulp and paper industry and particleboard, and, secondarily,for saw-timber. With the aim to improve the clonal offer, a breeding programme is being developed by INTA in collaboration with other officialinstitutions and private agreements. The strategy is based on inter and intra-specific hybridisationand selection,considering: growth, adaptability, resistance to pests and diseases,stem form and wood quality. A broad series of trials to test the material are located indifferent areas of the country, the most in the Paraná Delta , the main coreof willow production in the country; other tests are established in Patagoniaregion and Salado River Basin.                       Evaluations of a series of screening and yieldtrials in Delta area have led to select six new clones in 2012, and three morein 2016. Clonal identification by genetics markers werecarried out for all genotypes. Six of these genotypes were originated from controlled crossings (S.matsudana x S. aba and S.matsudana x S. nigra), and three from open-pollination (individualsof S. alba, S. nigra and S. matsudana).In yield trials of six years old, localized in average site qualities of Deltaregion, the new clones showed a mean of volume of 22.8m3.ha-1.yr-1,which was 45.3% better than the mean of the older traditional clones. The threetop clones of the nine selected clones yielded 33.2m3.ha-1.yr-1,28.7m3.ha-1.yr-1 and 26.5m3.ha-1.yr-1. Regarding wood traits, six of the nine newimproved clones showed outstanding characteristics (basic density, fiber length,whiteness of the wood; and tear strength, tensile strength and scattering ofthe pulp) and suitability for sawing. The genotypes selected havedifferent degrees of flooding tolerance, in consequence specific clones couldbe recommended according to the risk of flooding of each area.