Intergenotypic Competition in Forest Trees
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Date
2007
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Abstract
In contrast to the numerous investigations reported in crop plants, intergenotypic competition has been studied only to a minor extent in forest trees. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for a better understanding of the role of competitive interactions in tree species through increased research. Intergenotypic competition needs to be considered, and may have important implications, in several aspects of population genetics and tree breeding, including: the maintenance of polymorphisms, development of selection theory, design of field plots, and the yield and phenotypic stability of genetically improved populations. Preliminary results from a greenhouse study of competition among hybrid poplar clones illustrate some of the above implications and show that competitive effect can be quite strong and varied. Five questions about competitive interactions that seem to be of particular interest, and which should be given priority in future investigations, are presented and discussed.