Genetic improvement of shortleaf pine on the Mark Twain, Ouachita, and Ozark National Forests

Abstract

A genetic conservation and breeding program for shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) was initiated in the 1960s by the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. Superior trees were selected from natural stands throughout the Forest. Fifty of the top-ranked superior trees were grafted into a first generation seed orchard at the Ouachita National Forest in central Arkansas. Major seed collections from the clonal seed orchard were made in 1981, 1983, 1986 and 2003. Thirteen open pollinated progeny tests were established in the early to mid-1980s to evaluate orchard parents and obtain data to rogue the orchard. About half of these tests were lost or severely damaged by severe heat and drought in 1980 and 1983. A control pollinated progeny test was established in 2002 to further evaluate parents in the seed orchard, and to develop a second generation seed orchard. Progeny test results suggested that genetic variation exists in shortleaf pine, and genetic gain is predicted to be significant. Improvement of shortleaf pine by the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests in Arkansas began in the early 1960s with the selection of superior shortleaf pine trees on the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests. Fifty superior trees were selected from each of the following geographic sources: East Ouachita, West Ouachita, and Ozark. Scions were collected from these superior trees and grafted to root stock at the orchard. Once established, these grafts were outplanted into their respective blocks of the Ouachita seed orchard. Eighty-four progeny tests were established from controlled pollinated crosses in breeding population one of the Region 8 shortleaf pine breeding program. Several of these progeny tests were lost for a variety of reasons, including fire, animal damage, and unfavorable weather conditions. However, data from over 60 valid full-sib progeny tests were used to choose selections to be established in the second generation orchard. Challenges and opportunities of the shortleaf pine tree improvement programs on the three National Forests are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Shortleaf pine restoration and ecology in the Ozarks: proceedings of a symposium

Citation

Studyvin, Charly; Gwaze, David. 2007. Genetic improvement of shortleaf pine on the Mark Twain, Ouachita, and Ozark National Forests. In: Kabrick, John M.; Dey, Daniel C.; Gwaze, David, eds. Shortleaf pine restoration and ecology in the Ozarks: proceedings of a symposium; 2006 November 7-9; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-15. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 84-88.