THE USE OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGULES IN FOREST GENETICS AND TREE IMPROVEMENT

Vegetative propagation, in theory and in practice, offers advantages for research in several areas of forest biology. It also has a direct practical application in the use of rooted cuttings or other forms of vegetative propagules in afforestation. The most severe difficulties which presently prevent these theoretical advantages from being realised are associated with phase change and maturation of apical meristems. Many of these difficulties can be avoided by propagating from very young trees, or by manipulating clones to keep some members in the juvenile phase of growth. These latter can continue to serve as donors of vegetative propagules which will have a consistent stage of maturation at the time of planting.