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Project Title: Genetic Improvement of Western Larch: Series II Progeny Tests for West Kootenay/Shuswap Adams Seed Planning
Project Number: EP 1020.02.04
District: Arrow Boundary Forest District
Location: Cameron Lake
Lat. 50 19'N, Long. 117 59'W		 Opening # 82K031-175-55
Eureka Creek
Lat. 50 05'N, Long. 118 20'W		 Opening # 82L009-265-2
Principal Researcher: Barry Jaquish
Kalamalka Forestry Centre
Vernon		 Phone: (250) 260-4766
e-mail:
Barry.Jaquish@gov.bc.ca

Objectives:

  • To evaluate the growth and adaptability of local and non-local western larch families in the West Kootenay/Shuswap Adams seed planning zone.
  • To estimate breeding values of parents included in the Ministry of Forests' first-generation seed orchard in order to remove genetically inferior parents.
  • To study the inheritance of traits relating to tree growth, form, adaptability and wood properties in western larch.

Experimental Design:

  • 210 genetic entries [wind-pollinated (wp) families and operational check seedlots]

Treatments

Seedlot Zone of Origin Seedlot Category Number of entries
West Kootenay/Shuswap Adams wp. families 179
East Kootenay wp. families 14
Merritt wp. families 10
Controls operational bulk seedlots 7

Layout

  • Randomized complete-block design with 8 replicate blocks.
  • The 210 genetic entries were randomly subdivided into 7 sets of 30.
  • Sets were randomly assigned to positions in blocks.
  • Genetic entries were randomly assigned to four-tree plots within sets.
  • Sampling units are individual trees spaced at 2 x 2m. White stakes identify set corners.

History:

  • 1996 plantations established
  • 1998
    • third-year heights measured
    • Cameron Lake plantation brushed
  • 1999 Eureka Creek location abandoned due to poor survival.
  • 2001 sixth year height assessments and maintenance

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Jaquish, B., G. Howe, L. Fins and M. Rust. 1995. Western larch tree improvement programs in the Inland Empire and British Columbia. In Ecology and management of Larix forests: a look ahead. Proc. of an international symposium; 1992 October 5-9; Whitefish, MT, U.S. Schmidt, W.C. and K.J. McDonald (comps). Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-319. Ogden, UT: U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. pp. 452-460.

Comments:

These plantings represent part of the West Kootenay/Shuswap Adams Series II western larch progeny tests. The test materials in these tests are also planted at two sites (Sparkle Creek and Miriam Creek) in the Kamloops Forest Region.

1998 - The Eureka Creek plantation is at high elevation (1560 m) in the ESSFwc1 zone. The plantation suffered high mortality that was attributed to cold damage.

Both installations also include a small planting of alpine x western larch hybrids. Each planting consists of 3 hybrid families and 5 operational Lw seedlots randomly planted in 4 replicate blocks with 10 larch trees per family.