Genetic Variation in Basic Wood Properties of 36 Clones of Populus deltoides

year-old clones of Populus deltoides Martr from the gene-pool in Changqing County,Shandong Province were used as testing material.Their wood basic density,fiber length,tree height and DBH were measured and analysed.The results show:asignificant variance was observed in 4 traits among the 36 clones.5 fine clones with higherdensity,longer fiber and faster growth were selected to be the best clones by optimization.Genetic variation of wood basic properties and tree growth were analysed.The broad-senseheritabilities for basic density(0.32),fiber length(0.40),tree height(0.43),DBH(0.71)of 36 clones were calculated.These results showed that these basic wood properties and treegrowth were under moderate and stronger genetic control.There was a slight negativegenetic correlation between the wood basic density and tree growth rate, as well as a positivegenetic correlation between the fiber length and tree growth rate.The traits of density andlength can be selected independently.The genetic parameters of wood basic properties andtree growth were put forward for the introduction of P.deltoides.Moreover,the wood basicdensity, fiber length,tree height and DBH of female and male trees were compared.The differences of 4 traits between female and male trees were not significant.