Araucaria angustifolia is a species known for its valuable wood and nuts, but it is threatened with extinction. The plantation of forests for genetic resource conservation is a complementary strategy designed to reduce the species’ genetic variability loss. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and economic viability of A. angustifolia for genetic conservation through use. The analyzed provenance and progeny trial was established in 1982 in Itapeva, Brazil. It was structured using a compact family blocks design with 110 open-pollinated progenies from five natural populations, three replicates, ten plants per subplot, and 3.0 m × 2.0 m spacing. After 33 years, the trial was evaluated for total height, diameter at breast height, wood volume, and survival. The variance components and genetic parameter estimates were performed using Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction methods (REML/BLUP) methods with the Selegen software (version 2014). The production and management scenarios were obtained using the SisAraucaria software (version 2003). Sensitivity analysis and economic parameter estimates were obtained through various economic evaluation methods using the Planin software (version 1995). In general, the genetic parameters indicated that the population has enough variability for both conservation and breeding purposes, suggesting technical viability for the establishment of a seed orchard. The economic parameters indicated that the commercialization of wood and araucaria nuts proved to be more profitable than wood production by itself. In conclusion, araucaria genetic conservation through use is a technically and economically viable ex situ conservation strategy.

The objective of this work was to assess the genetic variability of Araucaria cunninghamii in a provenance test and to estimate the genetic gains in its wood production, based on different selection intensities. The trial was established in Luís Antônio, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using open-pollinated seed from Queensland, Australia. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block with six replicates, and four plants per plot. Diameter at breast height (DBH), stem form, and survival were measured at 29 years after planting. Significant differences were detected among provenances. The coefficient of genotypic variation between provenances was high (60%) for DBH and stem form. The mean values for DBH and stem form were 23.21 cm and 4.50, respectively. The provenances Langkelly Creek, Brooweena L.A., Yarraman, and St. Agnes showed the best performance for DBH, and Imbil Seed Orchard, Brooweena L.A, St. Agnes, St. John, and Yarraman, for stem form. Genetic gains ranged from 0.5 to 24.8% for DBH, and from 0.9 to 3.5% for stem form.

Cordia trichotoma is a Brazilian species that has been studied for different forest systems. However, genetic breeding programs could highly improve species use. To obtain a better yield, it is essential to identify the species genotypes with superior performance. Thus, the work objective of this work was to estimate genetic divergence in two C. trichotoma progenies tests based on phenotypic traits. The experimental design adopted was the randomized blocks, one plant per plot, using 40 (area one) and 34 (area two) repetitions, using 3.0 m × 3.0 m spacing. The evaluated traits were diameter at 1.30 m above the soil (DBH-cm), total height (HT-m), collar diameter at 30 cm above the ground (DC-cm), and height of the first whorl (HFW-cm). The estimate of genetic divergence and the Tocher clustering method was performed using the REML / BLUP method. The genetic distances between the progenies in area 1 were 2.13 and 47.74 (17 and 15). In area two the genetic distances between the progenies were 3.64 (9 and 15) and 48.28 (12 and 7). The progenies formed 10 and 4 distinct groups, respectively, in area 1 and area 2). The traits that most contributed to genetic divergence were DBH-2016 (14.65%) in area one, and HT-2014 (14.32%) in area two. In sumary, the C. trichotoma progenies show high genetic divergence. Regarding breeding programs, it is recommended to cross progenies from the most divergent groups to heighten the genetic gain through the selection of more productive genotypes. Cordia trichotoma es una especie nativa que está siendo evaluada para diferentes sistemas forestales. El hecho de que los individuos empleados en las plantaciones posean algún grado de mejoramiento genético tiene muchas ventajas; para lograr este mejoramiento es fundamental la obtención de genotipos superiores, a fin de obtener un mejor rendimiento del producto final. El objetivo del presente estudio fue estimar la divergencia genética de progenies de C. trichotoma en dos diferentes condiciones de textura de suelo, por medio de caracteres fenotípicos. El diseño experimental fue bloques completos al azar, un árbol por parcela con 40 (área 1) y 34 (área 2) repeticiones, con espaciamiento de 3,0 m × 3,0 m. Los caracteres evaluados fueron: diámetro a altura del pecho, altura total de plantas, diámetro de cuello y altura del primer verticilo. Para estimar la divergencia genética y el agrupamiento de Tocher fue utilizado el método REML/BLUP. Las distancias entre las progenies en el área 1 fueron de 2,13 y 47,74 (17 y 15), en el área 2 las distancias entre las progenies fueron de 3,64 (9 y 15) y 48,28 (12 y 7). Las progenies formaron diez y cuatro grupos distintos (área 1 y área 2). Los caracteres que más contribuyeron para divergencia genética fueron diámetro a la altura del pecho-2016 (14,65%) área 1, y altura total de plantas-2014 (14,32%) área 2. Las progenies de C. trichotoma presentaron alta divergencia genética. En programas de mejoramiento, se recomienda el cruzamiento entre progenies de los grupos más divergentes para priorizar la ganancia con selección de los genotipos más productivos.

The aim of this study was to determine the forest species trees and shrubs that occur in the Amhara region, Ethiopia, for determining the possible areas for collecting seeds and propagations to meet genetic conservation and use programs as well as the recovery of degraded areas. The study was conducted at Fudi Natural Forest in Fagta Lekoma district, Amhara region, northwestern Ethiopia. Using geographic information systems (GISs), the points of presence of species were plotted on the USGS SRTM map (GTOPO30) at 1:250,000 scale (USGS, 2018) using Arc GIS 10.1 software (ESRI, 2011). The map has been cropped and presented only for the citizens that contained points of presence of the species. Figures were generated in the JPG format for each species individually, presenting the distribution of each according to the altitude of the region. The maps were elaborated using multiple linear regressions, relating the bioclimatic variables with the numerical models of latitude, longitude, and altitude. Descriptive statistical analysis was initially performed. This was followed by performing a normality test to observe the data distribution. In the region, 1250 individuals of 32 families and 46 species were surveyed. The families most found in the northeast, north, northwest, southwest, southeast, and west regions were Mimosoideae, Euphorbiaceae, Celastraceae, and Rubiaceae.