<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>To obtain fundamental and useful information regarding heartwood color traits in Japanese cedar, the validity of using <italic>L</italic>* index for expressing heartwood color and genetic and environmental influences on heartwood color were analyzed using 118 clones with 303 individuals aged approximately 30 years. As for three clones with typical reddish and blackish heartwood, relationships between heartwood color and moisture/potassium content, which were pointed out as ones of the causative agents of blackish heartwood, and the color change after approximately 20 years of conservation were investigated.</p><p>Based on the continuity, width range, and standard deviation of each index of <italic>L*a*b*</italic> data, <italic>L</italic>* was found out to be an appropriate index to express heartwood color in this species. <italic>L</italic>* values significantly differed between clones. A moderately high repeatability of clones was detected in <italic>L</italic>* value. Spatial autocorrelation analysis also showed a stronger effect genetically than environmentally. Moisture and potassium contents significantly differed between two groups of reddish and blackish heartwood. Therefore, the absorption and accumulation of water and potassium into trunk may be genetically regulated. As for the <italic>L</italic>* value of heartwood color after approximately 20 years of conservation, the difference between two groups was still significant, but the lightness in blackish heartwood increased such that the difference was greatly reduced.</p></abstract>

To obtain fundamental and useful information regarding heartwood color traits in Japanese cedar, the validity of using L* index for expressing heartwood color and genetic and environmental influences on heartwood color were analyzed using 118 clones with 303 individuals aged approximately 30 years. As for three clones with typical reddish and blackish heartwood, relationships between heartwood color and moisture/potassium content, which were pointed out as ones of the causative agents of blackish heartwood, and the color change after approximately 20 years of conservation were investigated.Based on the continuity, width range, and standard deviation of each index of L*a*b* data, L* was found out to be an appropriate index to express heartwood color in this species. L* values significantly differed between clones. A moderately high repeatability of clones was detected in L* value. Spatial autocorrelation analysis also showed a stronger effect genetically than environmentally. Moisture and potassium contents significantly differed between two groups of reddish and blackish heartwood. Therefore, the absorption and accumulation of water and potassium into trunk may be genetically regulated. As for the L* value of heartwood color after approximately 20 years of conservation, the difference between two groups was still significant, but the lightness in blackish heartwood increased such that the difference was greatly reduced.

Genetic effects on heartwood color variation in <italic>Cryptomeria japonica</italic>

Tohoku Regional Breeding Office, Forest Tree Breeding Center

Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization

Forest Tree Breeding Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

Silvae Genetica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Genetic effects on heartwood color variation in 

To obtain fundamental and useful information regarding heartwood color traits in Japanese cedar, the validity of using L* index for expressing heartwood color...

Genetic effects on heartwood color variation in Cryptomeria japonica

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 80 - 87

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2016-0020

Keywords
Japanese cedar, heartwood color, Lab* color sytem, spatial autocorrelation, potassium

© 2016 Naoko Miyamoto et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Genetic effects on heartwood color variation in Cryptomeria japonica

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 80 - 87

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2016-0020

KeywordsJapanese cedar, heartwood color, L*a*b* color sytem, spatial autocorrelation, potassium

© 2016 Naoko Miyamoto et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Japanese cedar, heartwood color, Lab* color sytem, spatial autocorrelation, potassium