Typically, the tallest/strongest seedlings are used when pricking out individual seedlings from seed trays to root trainers. The fast development of the seedlings could be attributed to early germination as much as early vigour. It is not practical to transplant every seedling. The seedlings left behind and disturbed by transplanting may be slower to germinate - not always a bad trait. Has anyone investigated the effect of unintended selection at this stage?
Dear Hellen. There are several examples that the initial growth of seedlings is not a factor of genetic superiority. As you said may be due to the higher speed of germination (germinative energy) but also function of the size and weight of the seeds which have more reserves and promote greater growth of the seedlings. However, in the group of small seedlings there may be self-fertilized and genetically inferior plants, which normally do not occur in larger seedlings. Therefore, although large seedlings are not all related to superior genetic quality in small seedlings there may be a certain amount of plants with inferior quality. In some species, their crossing generates abnormal plants which have reduced growth. In my opinion it is better to use larger plants and probably this option doesn't make any difference on the tree breeding process.
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