Quantitative genetics and selection in forest improvement is a work that manages to organize from concepts to the use of methods and procedures of modern genetic improvement, with emphasis on the improvement of forest species, but of general application in the agroforestry field. In addition, he reviews the beginnings of tree genetic improvement and briefly traces the history of its development in Costa Rica.

The text manages to combine theoretical elements treated with rigor, linked to procedures and methodologies of analysis and interpretation of information. The foundations of a formal improvement program are also reviewed in detail: from the beginning starting with the selection of superior trees, genetic evaluation in the field, estimation and prediction of population parameters, up to the mating designs to advance towards the next generation of improvement.

The second section shows the use of the SELEGEN software developed in EMBRAPA, Brazil, which solves the complex analysis of data from more than 200 types of genetic tests, based on the REML-BLUP procedures. In the same way, the organization of the data is shown in detail for each type of experimental statistical model, its respective analysis and the output of information generated by the software.

Likewise, the types of models are organized according to whether it is for trials of half-siblings, complete siblings, clones, in a single locality or several, as well as with the inclusion of covariances. It includes the procedures for selecting several characters simultaneously, as well as analysis of binomial and categorical characters. Finally, a case study of evaluation and selection in a breeding program for teak in Costa Rica is included.