Milyutin L. I. Relationship Between Genetic and Breeding Research of Forest Woody Plants

Genetic and breeding methods in the study of woody forest plants are analyzed. An insufficient research base of methods of correlative breeding is noted. Problems of phenetics woody plants, i.e. use of phens (discrete and indivisible features) as genotypic markers of woody plants in the practice of forest breeding, are discussed. The opinion is confirmed that phens of woody plants are rare. These markers are used effectively to introduce a genetic passport system of trees in clonal plantations, but they are not enough for selection of trees’ productivity and stability. Analysis of genetic investigations of woody plant populations revealed problems in the publications of biochemical genetics (study of isozyme and DNA-polymorphism). First of all, these problems concern the study of geographic variability. Genetic investigations of woody plant populations diminish this variability portion to the few per cent of the general variability. Intrapopulation variability made up 90 % and more. This phenomenon is explained by different investigators for diverse reasons (local stabilizing selection, genetic drift and so on). In my opinion those factors are effective only in populations of species with small areas, but those factors haven’t great importance in the populations of such species as Siberian larch for example. In such case, some geographic (interpopulation) variability is explained by other reasons. Many current and unsolved problems in the relationship of genetic and breeding research on forest woody plants were considered. In particular, disadvantages of isoenzymic and DNA polymorphism were analyzed. The tasks aimed at bringing together research of forest geneticists and breeders are discussed.