The efficiency of combined family/within family selection was evaluated in half-sib progenies of taxi-branco (Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel) at the Cerrado Experiment Station, Embrapa Amapá, Amapá, Brazil, in a four-year-old 21 half-sib progeny trial in a randomized block design. Highly significant differences (p < 1%) were found for three traits likely to show high genetic gain due to selection: diameter (DBH), biomass and height. Combined selection provided estimates of 30%, 42% and 51% gains, respectively, confirming that combined selection is a promising strategy in forest tree improvement. Effective population size must be estimated to assure genetic gain and preserve genetic variability.
genetic gain; genetic value; selection methods; forest tree improvement