In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees - ITTO

237Genetic Tree ImprovementActivitiesSince 1976, Indonesia has conducted a number of tree improvement activitieswith various species. There is abundant evidence from around the world toshow that the availability of good quality seed or planting materials of the bestspecies is one of most critical factors in ensuring healthy, productive, andprofitable plantations. Genetically improved materials can be obtained througha series of tree improvement activities.Tree improvement in the USA is generally recognized as the most costeffective and profitable forest management technique available. Therefore it isa widely acceptable practice in most regions of that country (Hanover, 1990).Tree improvement can be defined as the application of genetic principles tosilviculture to produce high quality forest products.Zobel and Talbert (1984) distinguished between tree breeding, whichis aimed at solving specific problems, and tree improvement aimed at increasingthe production and quality of products by combining genetics, silviculture, andforest management activities.Indonesia early realized that tree improvement is an important tool tomeet the need for good quality planting materials and genetic improvement isnow an accepted activity in Indonesia. According to Zobel & Talbert (1984), aforest tree improvement program consists of the following major activities:1. Determination of species to be improved and the geographic sources to beused.2. Determination of the amount, kind, and causes of variability within a species.3. Packaging of the desired qualities into the improved individuals to developlines of trees combining those desired characters.4. Mass production of improved individuals for reforestation purposes.5. Developing and maintaining populations with a broad genetic base.Using those activities as a guide, Indonesia has carried out the following:1. Exploration to identify natural distribution of a particular species2. Species trial plantation establishment3. Provenance test plantation establishment4. Progeny test plantation establishment5. Plus tree selection followed by seed & vegetative materials collection6. Clone bank establishment7. Controlled pollination8. Hybridization