Abstract:In order to select excellent families of Casuarina equisetifolia, the growth characters of 23 provenances 109 families from 10 countries were comprehensively selected in Chihu State-owned Protective Forest Farm, Fujian Province. The results showed that there were significant differences among provenances and families in Height, diameter at breast height (DBH), individual volume, insect resistance, health status and survival rate afforestated for 42 months. The growth rate of 1 India provenance (18118), 3 China provenances (18267, 18268, 18586), and 3 Thailand provenances (18297, 18299, 21199) was higher than that of other provenances. The resistance against Anoplophora chinensis of Kenya provenances (18135, 18142, 18144), Australia provenance (17862), Vanuatu provenances (18312, 18565) was strong. The health status of Vanuatu provenance (18312) and Kenya provenance (18142) was better than that of other provenances. Three provenances from China (18586), Vietnam (18128) and Kenya (18144) showed higher survival than other provenances. The heritability of individual volume of C. equisetifolia was the highest, followed by survival and insect resistance, and health status was the lowest. The individual volume, insect resistance, health status and survival rate were used to index selection. According to selection rate for 25%, 28 families were considered as superior genetic materials of C. equisetifolia for cross-breeding in the further.
