Abstract: We studied 49 six-year Betula platyphylla progeny testing forest families to determine their growth and wood traits in Maoershan Experimental Forest, and selected the superior families of B.platyphylla by using continuous selection and index selection of growth and wood traits. There were very significant variations in height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume per plant and preservation rate within the families. By the multiple comparison of four growth traits, we selected five superior families and three inferior superior families. By variance analysis for the wood traits of eight superior families, there were significant differences in wood basic density, content of ligin and holocellulose except fiber length. We constructed index equations using selection index and selected I₂ as the idealist multi-trait index equation, and determined the families for pulpwood production of 655, 604 and 630.

Key words: Betula platyphylla, progeny variation, pulpwood, germplasm selection