Converting a progeny test of Pinus greggii var. greggii into a seed orchard based on Eigenanalysis

Abstract

The study was conducted on a progeny test of Pinus greggii var. greggii established at Los Tarihuanes, Arteaga, Coahuila, Mexico. The objective was to convert a progeny test of Pinus greggii var. greggii into a seed orchard by simulating a silvo-genetic thinning and a tree selection through a selection index based on a principal components (CP) analysis. The selection index method based on the Eigenanalysis (i.e., principal components) allowed the selection of the best seed trees. The variables used for the construction of the selection index (basal diameter, normal diameter, volume of Pressler, total height, canopy diameter, and diameter of branches) explained 80.5% out of the total variance. The application of low and geometric thinning simulations with the Software Stand Visualization System (SVS) allowed the design of the seed orchard. The use of the SVS facilitated the design of the area as well as the visualization of the spatial distribution for each tree. Trees density in the seed orchard is within the range of densities used in other related studies.