Performance and wood quality of in vitro propagated hybrid curly birch (Betula pendula × Betula pendula var. carelica SOK.) clones.

Selected adult hybrid curly birch clones were multiplied by tissue culture. The donor trees originated from breeding experiments which sought to combine straight stem form and a strongly curled wood structure. Micropropagated plants were planted by machine in rows in a field trial. After ten years the height and breast height diameter of the clones were measured and the wood quality of two clones was assessed by felling sample trees to observe wood grain and veneer quality. Results show that tissue culture propagation methods are a valuable tool for the ,,true-to-type" propagation of birch with regards to outstanding wood qualities.