ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to evaluate families propagation of Pinus taeda bysomatic embryogenesis using estimates of genetic parameters. For somatic embryogenesis, immature cones of 65 elite families of loblolly pine were selected. The germoplasm used for field test was composed of 238 clones from 31 families, propagated via somatic embryogenesis. Genetic and statistical analyses were performed by estimation of variance components via residual maximum likelihood (Reml) and prediction of breeding values via best linear unbiased prediction (Blup) using the Selegen-Reml/Blup software. According to the results, genetic variability detected enables high possibility of genetic gain by selection among families, for both characters presence of somatic embryos and number of clones by families of Pinus taedadesigned to somatic embryogenesis. There is little or no genetic correlation between the number of clones propagated via somatic embryogenesis and characteristics height, diameter, volume assessed and survival at four years of age in clonal tests. We conclude that there is greater genetic gain the ability to spread by somatic embryogenesis by selecting families of Pinus taeda.
Genetic control; Genetic improvement; Clonal propagation
