Development of economic forest tree breeding objectives: review of existing methodology and discussion of its application in Swedish conditions

Abstract Genetic selection in forest tree breeding requires multiple traits to be considered simultaneously. Based on an economic breeding objective, traits are weighted according to their economic importance to create an index used for selection. Economic breeding objectives have mainly been developed in animal breeding and have only recently been applied to forest tree breeding. A review of the general methodology highlights the decisions associated with developing economic breeding objectives and their effects. Furthermore, studies concerning economic forest tree breeding objectives provide a bulk of knowledge and practical experience for fast growing, short rotation species. We have identified and discussed challenges when applying this methodology in Swedish tree breeding. Major challenges are: (1) managing the uncertainty of future industrial uses of wood and industrial processing, originating from long rotations; (2) various issues associated with having a production system describing an entire nat...