Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question is about tree improvement and breeding. It asks for the specific criterion that upgrades a "Plus Tree" to an "Elite Tree."
Detailed Explanation:
• In tree breeding, a Plus Tree is an outstanding individual identified in the forest based purely on its physical appearance (phenotype).
• However, a tree might look good just because it is growing in a very favorable spot (environmental effect). To be useful for breeding, the superior traits must be genetically inheritable.
• To prove this, seeds or clones from the Plus Tree are grown in "progeny trials."
• An Elite Tree is a Plus Tree whose genetic superiority has been proven through progeny testing.
• If the children (progenies) of the tree also show superior performance in a controlled environment, the parent is officially declared "Elite."
Step 2: Final Answer:
Elite trees are defined by the proven genetic performance of their offspring (progenies).