Overview

Coastal Tree Breeding

• Coastal Douglas-fir
• Western redcedar
• Yellow cypress
• Sitka spruce
• Western white pine (coastal)
• Western hemlock

Interior Tree Breeding

• Interior spruce
• Interior Douglas-fir
• Western larch
• Lodgepole pine
• Western white pine (interior)
• Broadleaved Species (Interior)

Interior Tree Breeding

Interior Pines and Broadleaved Species 2006/07

(Michael Carlson, John Murphy, Vicky Berger)

Lodgepole Pine

Interior lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) in British Columbia has, for the past several years been under ever- increasing attack by the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) with an estimated 10 million hectares currently affected. By 2013 it is expected that 80% of the mature lodgepole pine trees in the province will be dead. Salvage harvesting has greatly accelerated over the past 5 years with approximately 44% of the provincial AAC now lodgepole pine (61 % of the interior volume cut). Over 134 million pine seedlings were requested in 2006 representing one half of all seedlings for 2007 planting. 1.5% of lodgepole pine seedlings planted currently are of seed orchard origins, 9.5% are from tested superior-provenance seed collections and 89% from wild stand collections.

Over the past 6 years lodgepole pine seed orchard capacity has been greatly expanded with an intensive orchard parent selection program concentrating on 16-20 year-old first generation wind-pollinated progeny trials for 7 seed planning units (SPUs). A total of 35,000 ramets have been grafted and 8 new orchards planted by the Select Seed Company and various private cooperators. In 2006 we continued selection work in two southern interior SPUs; the Nelson low and high elevation units. A single-tree weighted index score for total tree height (age 10 yrs) was used to rank progeny test trees. The index is based on family mean height and deviations of individual trees within family, with adjustments made for rep (site) and site effects. Stem and crown form as well as disease and insect resistance traits were also integrated into the selection process. (Fig 1, Fig 2)

In addition, selections were made from the Central Plateau SPU test series for a western gall rust resistance seed orchard to be grafted in 2007/08. This will be the first lodgepole pine disease resistance seed orchard in British Columbia. Other seed orchard expansions are planned for the PG low and TO low and high SPUs in 2007/08.(Fig 3, Fig 4)

All second generation SPU family test series are now planted (5) ) and the the first planted (the PG) was measured this year after 5 field seasons. Each SPU family test series consists of sets of factorial crossings for volume growth and for wood relative density. (Fig 5, Fig 6)

Genetic variation for resistance to mountain pine beetle attack has been documented in a first generation progeny test series (wind-pollinated families) and in two lodgepole pine seed orchards (at clonal, full-sib family, and provenance levels).( Fig 7)

Western White Pine

Enhancement of existing western white pine (Pinus monticola) seed orchards (2) continued with the selection of 26 parents from a 23 year-old blister rust resistance demonstration plantation and the continued selection of parents from our rust inoculation and screening program. (Fig 8, Fig 9)

Ponderosa Pine

Climate change predictions suggest increasingly drier and warmer conditions for the southern interior of B.C. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) inhabits the driest parts of the southern interior now and numbers of seedlings planted have increased gradually to over 1 million in 2006. In 2002 a 1992 planted 73 seed-source ponderosa trial site (2,400 trees) was thinned to the best trees within the best seed sources (450/2,400, based on total tree heights) to create a seed production stand/orchard. In 2005, based on 13 year stem volume data an elite subset of 41 parents were re-selected from this population (41/450). These trees were grafted in 2006 and will be planted as a seed orchard in 2007. Final selection intensity is approximately 1 in 60 (41/2,400). (Fig 10)

Interior Broadleaved Species

Paper Birch

Heretofore paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera) has received little commercial attention (firewood mostly) but like red alder on the B.C. coast this species is getting more attention annually with increased utilization for flooring, furniture and small milled products. Experimentation with paper birch started with an 18 seed-source genecology trial in 1996, a 195 family wind-pollinated family trial in 1998 and a second genecology trial in 2001. All three trials were measured in 2006. The oldest trial data will be used to derive the first seed transfer guidelines for the species in British Columbia. The family trial at 9 years in the field will be the source of selected parents (approx 20-40) for the first paper birch seed orchard(s) for British Columbia. Cuttings for grafting and rooting will be collected from selected test trees in winter of 2006/07 with propogation in spring of 2007. We will be following the advice of the much experienced Finnish birch breeding program staff in the development of indoor (greenhouse) seed orchards for paper birch. Extention work with European silver birch (from Finland’s breeding program) continues with private landowners. (Fig 11, Fig 12, Fig 13, Fig 14, Fig 15, Fig 16)

Black Cottonwood and it’s Hybrids

Clonal testing of native black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera var. trichocarpa) and it’s hybrids (mostly with P. deltoides, eastern cottonwood) began in B.C. in 1989. The most recent testing effort involves 50+ hybrid clones of central B.C. interior origin black cottonwoods with northern origin’s eastern cottonwoods. Growth and adaptation comparisons with eastern shelterbelt populus spp. clones will be made in this trial. This effort is an adjunct to the B.C.Black Cottonwood Genecology established by Dr Chang-Yi Xie. Growth and adaptation studies of a small number of hybrids continues in the Kootenay river valley near Creston. One clone in the 1997 plantings has produced approximately 350 m³ of stem wood per hectare. (Fig 17, Fig 18)

Black Walnut from Eastern North America

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana has had a black walnut (Juglans nigra) selective breeding program for more than 35 years. In the late 1990s Purdue staff shared with us wind-pollinated families of some of their best selected parent trees for trial planting in the Okanagan Valley. Two apple orchard sites near Vernon were planted with small numbers of one year container-grown seedlings starting in 1999. Most families tested have responded to central Okanagan conditions very well with excellent stem form and rapid height growth and no disease or insect problems noted. (Fig 19)