Analysis of Inheritance and Growth of Curly Birch Progenies from Controlled Hybridisation and Possibilities of their Utilisation for Timber Production in Agricultural Landscape

The influence of habit form on progeny growth was studied within the evaluation of the height growth of curly birch hybrid progenies. In all years 1998, 1999 and 2001 statistically significant differences in height were found between progenies in dependence on the hybrid combination of their parents. A large variability of heights was recorded in particular hybrid combinations nearly in all evaluated years. The effect of distant hybridisation can occur within the combination of the parents with different habit forms and their progenies reach excellent growth rate. The qualitative characteristics - rhytidome colour, occurrence of curly grain (decorative timber) on the trunk and branches and habit form were evaluated in 2001. The results confirmed statistical significance of the relationship between hybrid combination and occurrence of the studied qualitative characteristics in their progeny. The curly grain on trunk was found in all evaluated progenies, in four of them the ratio of individuals with curly grain and individuals without it was 2:1, in one progeny it was in 1:1. The proportion of birches with decorative timber will possibly increase because especially fine types of curly grain can be correctly identified at higher age.