Comparing Alternative Options

The current accepted and well-established practice of describing the overall genetic quality of radiata pine is using the “GF-Plus™” Index http://www.rpbc.co.nz/gfscheme.htm , which is based on the earlier “Growth and Form” (GF) Index. The important parameters measured under GF-Plus™ relate to:

• Growth Rate
• Log Quality
• Wood Stiffness
• Wood Density
• Disease Resistance.

In general, the higher the GF-Plus™ rating, the better the tree.  Improved varieties are not yet GF-Plus™ rated. However, the New Zealand Radiata Pine Breeding Company is currently conducting a research project aimed at establishing GF-Plus™ ratings for varieties.

We are confident that GF-Plus™ ratings will be high for the FGC Varieties in production, because they are already outperforming seedlings and cuttings from both open-pollinated and control-pollinated seed orchards (elite crosses) as measured at ages 4-6 years.