Thomas Solvin

• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Skrøppa, Tore & Steffenrem, Arne (2024). Diallel crosses in Picea abies V. Can early testing predict long-term performance? Silvae Genetica. ISSN 0037-5349. 73(1), p. 48–59. doi: 10.2478/sg-2024-0005.
• Skrøppa, Tore; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2023). Diallel crosses in Picea abies IV. Genetic variation and inheritance patterns in short-term trials. Silvae Genetica. ISSN 0037-5349. 72(1), p. 58–71. doi: 10.2478/sg-2023-0006. Show summary

  The complete diallel cross is the only mating design that provides estimates of variance components of general combining (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), maternal and reciprocal effects, in addition to heritabilities and genetic correlations. To obtain such estimates, complete diallels were made among 10 trees in each of three natural Norway spruce populations from altitude 300 and 500 m in southern Norway. Seedlings from families from the diallels and open pollinations were tested in short-term tests on agricultural soil at one site at altitude 85 m until age 10 years from seed. Tree height at ages 7 and 10 years and diameter at age 10 had strongly significant GCA variance components within each population. The components for SCA and maternal effects were small and not significant, indicating low levels of non-additive genetic variation. For the days of initiation and cessation of the shoot elongation period the GCA components were dominating and had the highest heritability estimates in two of the diallels. Estimates of genetic correlations between traits measured in earlier nursery trials and height and diameter in the short-term trials had low and not consistent values in the three diallels. The duration of the shoot growth period and rate of growth showed positive relationships with height and diameter. Strong relationships were present between half-sib family means from the diallels and open-pollinated families for height, diameter and phenology traits. Progeny trials testing open-pollinated half-sib families from natural populations can be used for selection of candidates for the initial breeding populations.

• Skrøppa, Tore; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2023). Diallel crosses in Picea abies III. Variation and inheritance patterns in nursery trials. Silvae Genetica. ISSN 0037-5349. 72(1), p. 49–57. doi: 10.2478/sg-2023-0005. Show summary

  The complete diallel cross is the only mating design that provides estimates of variance components of general combining (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), maternal and reciprocal effects, in addition to heritabilities and genetic correlations. To obtain such estimates, complete diallels were made among 10 trees in each of three natural Norway spruce populations from altitude 300 and 500 m in Norway. Nursery trials were performed with the families from these crosses and families from seeds collected from open pollination. Traits measured and analysed are seed weight, germination rate, germination percentage, terminal bud set, and seedling heights the first and second years. The seedlings from the population at origin 500 m had lower seed weight, lower heights and earlier bud set than those from the two populations from lower altitude. A considerable variation was present among families within each diallel, and the GCA variance components had the highest values and were significant for most traits. Variance components for SCA and maternal effects were also significant for some traits, but with inconsistent values in the three diallels. A strong relationship was present between the weight of the seed lots from the maternal parent and mean family height after one and two growing seasons. The highest estimate of heritability was observed for bud set, with similar values in all three diallels.

• Liziniewicz, Mateusz; Berlin, Mats; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Hallingbäck, Henrik R.; Haapanen, Matti & Ruotsalainen, Seppo [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Development of a universal height response model for transfer of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) in Fennoscandia. Forest Ecology and Management. ISSN 0378-1127. 528. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120628. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Norway spruce is a major industrial tree species in Fennoscandia and future productivity of the species must be secured by matching the variation in adaptation of the species with suitable sites for optimized performance. An appropriate transfer model for forest reproductive material (FRM) is crucial for regeneration of productive forests in the changing climatic conditions that are predicted to occur in Fennoscandia. We have developed a transfer model for prediction of height of Norway spruce in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, using data acquired from 438 progeny and provenance trials with 1919 genetic entries of local and transferred origins. Transfer of genetic material at a given site was expressed in terms of the difference in daylength (photoperiod) between the site and its origin. This variable best reflected the nonlinear response to transfer that has been commonly reported in previous studies. Apart from the transfer variable, the height prediction model included the age of material when height measurements were acquired, annual temperature sum over 5 °C, precipitation during the vegetation period, and interaction terms between test site and transfer variables. The results show that long northward transfers (4-5° latitude) seem to be optimal for relatively mild sites in southern parts of the countries where growing season is longer, and shorter northward transfers (2-4° latitude) for harsher northern sites with shorter growing seasons. The transfer model also predicts that southward transfers of Norway spruce would result in height growth reductions. The developed model provides foundations for development of common or national recommendations for genetically improving Norway spruce material in Fennoscandia.

• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Puliti, Stefano & Steffenrem, Arne (2020). Use of UAV photogrammetric data in forest genetic trials: measuring tree height, growth, and phenology in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.). Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. ISSN 0282-7581. 35(7), p. 322–333. doi: 10.1080/02827581.2020.1806350. Full text in Research Archive
• Hansen, Thomas F; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Pavlicev, Mihaela (2019). Predicting evolutionary potential: A numerical test of evolvability measures. Evolution. ISSN 0014-3820. 73(4), p. 689–703. doi: 10.1111/evo.13705. Show summary

  Despite sophisticated mathematical models, the theory of microevolution is mostly treated as a qualitative rather than a quantitative tool. Numerical measures of selection, constraints, and evolutionary potential are often too loosely connected to theory to provide operational predictions of the response to selection. In this paper, we study the ability of a set of operational measures of evolvability and constraint to predict short‐term selection responses generated by individual‐based simulations. We focus on the effects of selective constraints under which the response in one trait is impeded by stabilizing selection on other traits. The conditional evolvability is a measure of evolutionary potential explicitly developed for this situation. We show that the conditional evolvability successfully predicts rates of evolution in an equilibrium situation, and further that these equilibria are reached with characteristic times that are inversely proportional to the fitness load generated by the constraining characters. Overall, we find that evolvabilities and conditional evolvabilities bracket responses to selection, and that they together can be used to quantify evolutionary potential on time scales where the G‐matrix remains relatively constant.

• Skrøppa, Tore & Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt (2019). Genetic variation and inheritance in a 9 × 9 diallel in silver birch (Betula pendula). Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. ISSN 0282-7581. 34(3), p. 178–188. doi: 10.1080/02827581.2019.1576921. Show summary

  A complete diallel cross was made among nine Betula pendula trees growing in a natural population and a trial was planted on agricultural soil at one site. This exceptional trial has provided estimates of genetic parameters that can only be estimated in complete diallels. Traits measured were height and diameter during a period of 37 years, and assessments were made of bud burst, leaf abscission and rust infection at the early ages. All traits showed genetic variation and the variance components of general combining ability (GCA) effects were dominating, with heritability estimates of 0.16 and 0.23 for height and diameter at age six years. The best-growing families could be identified at that age. At age 37 years, when the trial had been thinned twice, the offspring from the highest and lowest ranked parent for growth contributed with 19% and 6% of the total volume of the stand, respectively. The GCA effects were also highly significant for the assessment traits, but with an interaction with year for bud burst. High values of estimates of genetic correlations proved that bud burst, leaf abscission and rust infection are interrelated, and also to some extent with growth traits. Families with an early bud burst were tallest, were less affected by the rust fungus and kept their leaves later in the autumn.

• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2019). Modelling the epigenetic response of increased temperature during reproduction on Norway spruce phenology. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. ISSN 0282-7581. 34(2), p. 83–93. doi: 10.1080/02827581.2018.1555278. Show summary

  Temperature during seed maturation can induce an epigenetic memory effect in growth phenology of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) that lasts for several years. To quantify the epigenetic modifications induced by natural climatic variation, common garden experiments with plants originating from different provenances and seed years were performed. Plants from warmer seed years showed delayed phenology with later bud flush, bud set and growth cessation. This effect was quantified by linear models of phenology traits as a function of climate indices for the origin and seed year of the plants. Significant effects of the temperature during seed production (seed year) was found for the bud set in seedlings in their first growing season and for bud flush and growth cessation in the 7th-8th growing season from seed. The models suggest that growth start and growth cessation are delayed 0.7–1.8 days per 100 additional degree days experienced by the seed during embryo development and seed maturation. Models that include factors that are known to induce epigenetic effects could be used to better predict future performance of forest reproductive material.

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• Steffenrem, Arne; Odstrcil, Milo; Tyczynski, Gwidon; Kjos, Mari & Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt (2023). Practical experiences with phenotyping, genotyping, kinship estimation and selection for BWB in Scots pine and Norway spruce.
• Steffenrem, Arne; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Skrøppa, Tore (2023). Spring and Autumn Phenology Experiences with trade offs of Norway spruce in a boreal environment .
• Steffenrem, Arne; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Skrøppa, Tore (2023). Adaptation and growth of young Norway spruce – trade-offs and plasticity .
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2022). Epigen i skogbrukets planverktøy – foreløpige resultater fra Hoxmark.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt (2022). Frøplantasjedesign.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Edvardsen, Øyvind Meland; Steffenrem, Arne & Myking, Tor (2022). Startskudd for Proveniensvelgeren. Norsk Skogbruk. ISSN 0029-2087.
• Steffenrem, Arne; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Skrøppa, Tore (2022). Estimation of phenotypic plasticity in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Kars.) as maternal reproductive environment alter adaptive performance.
• Steffenrem, Arne; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Puliti, Stefano (2019). Fra høgdestenger til hexacopter i skogplanteforedlingen.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2018). Kunnskapsstatus epigenetikk.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Steffenrem, Arne & Skrøppa, Tore (2018). Genetic and epigenetic parts of climatic adaptation in two boreal tree species - Mid seminar for PhD project.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2018). Epigenetics and climate adaptation in Norway spruce.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Steffenrem, Arne & Skrøppa, Tore (2017). Norwegian provenance trials.
• Yakovlev, Igor; Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Kvaalen, Harald; Steffenrem, Arne; Viejo, Marcos & Fossdal, Carl Gunnar (2017). The epigenetic memory and climatic adaptation in Norway spruce.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt & Steffenrem, Arne (2016). Granas epigenetiske klimatilpasning i praksis.
• Skrøppa, Tore; Steffenrem, Arne & Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt (2016). Epigenetic response to climate conditions during the reproductive phase; an evolutionary factor of northern Norway spruce populations?
• Timmermann, Volkmar; Børja, Isabella; Clarke, Nicholas; Gohli, Jostein; Hietala, Ari Mikko & Jepsen, Jane Uhd [Show all 18 contributors for this article] (2023). Skogens helsetilstand i Norge. Resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i 2022. NIBIO. ISSN 978-82-17-03376-9. 9(132). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Skogens helsetilstand påvirkes i stor grad av klima og værforhold, enten direkte ved tørke, frost og vind, eller indirekte ved at klimaet påvirker omfanget av soppsykdommer og insektangrep. Klimaendringene og den forventede økningen i klimarelaterte skogskader gir store utfordringer for forvaltningen av framtidas skogressurser. Det samme gjør invaderende skadegjørere, både allerede etablerte arter og nye som kan komme til Norge i nær framtid. I denne rapporten presenteres resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i Norge i 2022 og trender over tid for følgende temaer: (i) Landsrepresentativ skogovervåking; (ii) Intensiv skogovervåking; (iii) Overvåking av bjørkemålere i Troms og Finnmark; (iv) Barkbilleovervåkingen; (v) Furuvednematode; (vi) Askeskuddsyke; (vii) Andre spesielle skogskader i 2022.

• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Fløistad, Inger; Proschowsky, Gunnar Friis; Leisgaard, Torben; Ylioja, Tiina & Tynkkynen, Marko [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2023). Statistics: Forest Seeds and Plants in the Nordic Region – Version 2023. NordGen.
• Solvin, Thomas Mørtvedt; Fjellstad, Kjersti Bakkebø; Fløistad, Inger; Proschowsky, Gunnar Friis; Leisgaard, Torben & Lännenpää, Antti [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2021). Statistics: Forest seeds and plants in the Nordic region. NordGen.

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