Seed Production
Seed Orchards
A seed orchard is a key element in a successful tree improvement program.
Ministry seed orchards are advanced generation plantations of genetically
superior trees, intensively managed to produce frequent, abundant, and easily
harvested seed crops. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has
been operating seed orchards since 1963.
Currently, Tree Improvement Branch manages 40 seed orchards and supplies seed
for 25 Seed Planning Zones - see diagram #1. This ensures genetic suitability to
the climate and ecological conditions of the area in which the seedlings are
planted. Seed planning zones are geographic areas defined on a map or by a
biogeoclimatic variant to control the movement of seed or to delineate an area
within which parent trees are selected for propagation or breeding.
Advanced generation seed orchards, originate from seed produced from
controlled pollination. In spring, female flowers from a superior parent
are enclosed in a waterproof bag. Pollen, collected from non-related
superior parents is then applied to the flowers, either by using an artist’s
brush or a modified airbrush. Once pollination has taken place, the bags
are removed and the flowers, or conelets, are protected from potential insect
attack by surrounding them with screen bags. The seed will be sown,
ensuring identity is maintained, and the resulting seedlings are established in
the orchard. These improved seed orchards are expected to produce seed for
commercial reforestation programs that will grow up to 25% faster than using
seed collected from surrounding stands.
Objectives
Provides select seed for Douglas-fir (coast and interior), interior spruce,
lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, western white pine, western larch, western
hemlock, and western red cedar.
- Continue genetic upgrading of existing orchards to produce seed with
higher gain.
- Develop technology transfer and demonstrations for MFML and industry
clients (both seed producers and users).
- Produce genetically improved and insect- and disease-resistant seed and
propagules from the MFML seed production sites.
Diagram #1 -
Summary of
Tree Improvement Branch species and their
respective seed planning zones.
|
Species
|
Seed
Planning
Zone
|
|
Cw
|
M low
|
|
Fdc
|
M Sm
|
|
Fdi
|
NE high, EK
|
|
Hw
|
M high
|
|
Lw
|
NE, EK
|
|
Pli
|
NE low,
high, EK,
BV, PG, CP,
TO
|
|
Pw
|
M, KQ
|
|
Py
|
South
Interior
|
|
Sx
|
NE, low,
mid, high,
EK, BV,
PRHH, PRFN
|
Seed
Sales/Custom Seed Lots
For seed
sales and general information, please
contact the administration office at 250-652-5600.
Historical
seedling request graph
Domestic Seed Price Schedule
Custom
Seedlots
Custom seedlots are created when a client
has a need for seed with desired traits from
specific parents. The traits include
elevational zones, wood density, genetic
worth and geographic areas. Tree
Improvement Branch would be pleased to employ opportunities
to provide such seedlots.
Please contact David Reid at
250-652-5600 or email to David Reid at
david.reid@gov.bc.ca.
Important
Tree Improvement Branch is not involved in
any genetic engineering, gene insertion,
gene splicing or biotechnology that results
in genetically modified organisms. In
keeping with the broad stewardship
responsibilities of the MFML for crown land,
Tree Improvement Branch has ensured that no
genetically modified tree seed has been
registered or used in operational forest
planting on crown land in British Columbia.
|
