Clonal forestry: An effective technique for increasing the productivity of plantations

Cloning is a propagation technology that can be very effective in making practical use, via clonal forestry; of proven superior individuals occurring in nature or developed by cloning. Vegetative propagation has become an important tool for increasing the areas under forest plantations. Clonal forestry reaches its highest potential when it is used to establish vegetative forests of hybrid endowed with better quality of wood and higher volumetric growth. Clonal forestry offers the greatest potential to deliver the benefits of the best individuals from a controlled cross. Genetically improved planting material of broad leaved trees has transformed the productivity and profitability of forest plantations. Average yields from such plantations are 20–25 times higher than naturally occurring forests. Propagation of forest trees from genotypes with highest breeding values is an efficient way of increasing productivity of forest plantations.