Genotype x environment interaction in maritime pine families in Galicia, northwest Spain

The magnitude and practical importance of family x site interactions for growth and form traits in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) breeding in the coastal area of Galicia (NW Spain) were analysed using several different techniques. Data were from 58 8-yr-old half-sib families planted across four sites. The analysis of variance and the ratio of interaction to family variance component showed the interactions to be quantitatively important for several traits, especially for volume and straightness. Genetic correlations between the same trait at different sites were moderate and highly variable, especially for certain pairs of sites. The results indicated that interactions are a consequence of few highly interactive families that may be particularly sensitive to environmental variation. The removal of these families from the breeding program appeared as an effective strategy to solve the interactions. Results are discussed in relation to the stability parameter considered to identify the most unstable progenies.