Genetic-parameter estimates and parental breeding-value predictions were compared from open-pollinated and control-pollinated progeny populations of Eucalyptus globulus and two populations of E. nitens. For E. globulus there were two types of open-pollinated populations (native stand open-pollinated and seed orchard open-pollinated) and two types of control-pollinated populations (intra-provenance and interprovenance full-sib families). For E. nitens there were two populations, a seed orchard open-pollinated population and intra-provenance full-sib families. Progeny tests were established across multiple sites and 2-year height and diameter were measured and volume calculated. Genetic parameters from native stand open-pollinated E. globulus were unlike the parameters from the other three E. globulus populations; heritability estimates were severely inflated, presumably due to high levels, and possibly differential levels, of inbreeding depression relative to the other populations. Estimates of dominance variance in the E. globulus full-sib populations were high, but were zero in the E. nitens population. Correlations among parental breeding values, predicted using data from the different populations, were generally low and non-significant, with two exceptions: predictions from the two E. globulus full-sib populations were significantly correlated (r=0.54, P = 0.001), as were predictions from the E. nitens seed orchard OP and full-sib population (r = 0.61, P = 0.08). There was some indication that superior parents of E. globulus native stand open-pollinated families also tended to have above-average breeding values based on the performance of intra-provenance full-sib offspring. The consequences of these results for exploitation of base-population collections from native stands are discussed.

To identify the chromosomal regions affecting wood quality traits, we conducted a genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of wood quality traits in Eucalyptus nitens. This information is important to exploit the full potential of the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. A three generational mapping population consisting of 296 progeny trees was used to identify QTL associated with several wood quality traits in E. nitens. Thirty-six QTL positions for cellulose content, pulp yield, lignin content, density, and microfibril angle (MFA) were identified across different linkage groups. On linkage groups (LG)2 and 8, cellulose QTL cluster with pulp yield and extractives QTL while on LG4 and 10 cellulose and pulp yield QTLs cluster together. Similarly, on LG4, 5, and 6 QTL for lignin traits were clustered together. At two positions, QTL for MFA, a physical trait related to wood stiffness, were clustered with QTL for lignin traits. Several cell wall candidate genes were co-located to QTL positions affecting different traits. Comparative QTL analysis with Eucalyptus globulus revealed two common QTL regions for cellulose and pulp yield. The QTL positions identified in this study provide a resource for identifying wood quality genes using the impending Eucalyptus genome sequence. Candidate genes identified in this study through co-location to QTL regions may be useful in association studies.

The northeast part of the Czech Republic (Moravia) and the adjoining part of Poland host a 100-km-long and 15-to 25-km-wide belt containing numerous isolated bodies (mainly sills) of lamprophyre of Lower Cretaceous age. The lamprophyres range from mafic (melanocratic) to evolved, feldspar-rich (mesocratic) variants. Mineralogically, they are characterized by compositionally zoned kaersutite phenocrysts, biotite and high Al-Ti salitic to diopsidic clinopyroxene. The lamprophyres are typically alkaline as shown by high contents of P 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , alkalies and incompatible trace elements such as light REE, Zr, Nb, Y, Ba and Sr, and by high Ti/V (>50) and chondrite-normalized (La/Yb) n (8-25) ratios. They resemble alkali basalts, basanites and nephelinites. Major element composition and trace element patterns and Nd-Sr isotopic values (ε Nd ca. +5.5 to +6.6 and ε Sr ca. -9.5 to -24.0) indicate that the lamprophyric magma was derived from a mantle source that was compositionally similar to the source of ocean island basalts with HIMU affinities and some continental extension-related alkali basaltic suites. The lamprophyres do not show any subduction imprint. They were generated in the garnet stability field by a variable degree of melting. Evolved lamprophyres were formed by clinopyroxenedominated fractional crystallization of mafic lamprophyric magma. The lamprophyres are interpreted to have been emplaced along conduits formed during the formation of a basin/graben structure in the Early Cretaceous.

The Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland expose the northeastern most basement inlier of the Appalachian Orogen. U-Pb results for two samples of basement gneiss reveal crustal formation ages of 1466 ± 10 Ma (Western Brook Pond charnockite) and 1530 ± 8 Ma (Cat Arm Road gneiss), indicating an affinity with Pinwarian magmatism (1510-1450 Ma) in Labrador. A third sample of basement gneiss from the Cat Arm Road dam site yielded a minimum formation age of 1631 Ma. These basement gneisses were intruded by granite plutons during two periods of Grenvillian magmatism; Group I at 1032-1022 Ma and Group II at 993-985 Ma. Group I intrusions include the 1032.0 ± 1.5 Ma Lomond River granite and the 1022.0 ± 2.0 Ma Lake Michel igneous suite; Group II intrusions include the 999 ± 4 Ma Potato Hill charnockite, 993 ± 7 Ma Horse Chops granite, 984.9 ± 1.6 Ma Cloud River granite, and may include the Apsy granite. The metamorphic history of the Long Range Inlier is complex and three discrete Proterozoic metamorphic events can be delineated on the basis of field relationships and U-Pb dates for metamorphic minerals. M 1 metamorphism is a regional high-grade event that occurred prior to 1032 Ma, the emplacement age for the unmetamorphosed Lomond River granite. M 2 and M 3 occurred at 1022 and 989 Ma, respectively; coinciding with the two main periods of Grenvillian magmatism. The Precambrian crustal evolution of the Long Range Inlier is very similar to the Pinware terrane of Labrador, consistent with a single contiguous terrane presently separated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A surprising discovery from this study is identification of the first known occurrence of Silurian mafic magmatism in the Long Range Inlier, the 430.5 ± 2.5 Ma Taylor Brook gabbro.