Abstract: The present invention is directed to a plant breeding and testing method that utilizes a pollen mixture derived from many male parents in conjunction with field trials and molecular pedigree analysis to evaluate breeding values and make progeny selections for the next generation of breeding. More specifically the plant breeding method involves mixing pollen obtained from a breeding group composed of a plurality of parental plants to obtain a pollen polymix. The polymix is used to pollinate female reproductive structures from parental plants in the breeding group to obtain a plurality of progeny seed lots. Each progeny seed lot has seeds obtained from a different cross between the pollen polymix and a different parental plant. Resultant progeny plants from each seed lot are evaluated using objective criteria to obtain a phenotype score. The pedigree of at least some of the progeny plants, usually those with a desirable phenotype score, is determined using molecular parental analysis.

Abstract: Methods are provided for using stress wave velocity measurements taken of a specimen at an early age to determine potential characteristics at a later age. The data may be used to, for example, evaluate specimens and/or families and/or clones at early ages to cut costs and/or to increase a rate of genetic gains. The specimens may be, for example, seedlings and/or explants of forestry and/or agricultural and/or horticultural species. The stress wave measurements may be obtained using conventional devices and/or systems and/or methods.