| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between stem volume in seven 19-30-yr-old field progeny trials and growth traits assessed in 1-yr-old Pinus sylvestris seedlings in growth-chamber treatments with optimal and limiting water availability at two temperatures. The seedlings in the growth-chamber experiment were open-pollinated families from two Swedish seed orchards. The field trials were established with full-sib families with the same parents. The genetic correlations between stem volume in the field progeny trials and height and biomass traits in the growth chamber were mainly low or zero. There was no clear pattern of juvenile-mature correlations with respect to combinations of growth-chamber treatments, field test site temperature and water availability. Periodic drought in the juvenile stage did not improve the juvenile-mature correlations, suggesting that at the juvenile stage, the mature stage, or both, the families used in this study do not appear to be specifically adapted to drought conditions. |
