Leveraging Populus field trials to manage environmental and human-induced change

Abstract

Tree improvement research is a long-term commitment that is subject to challenges from environmental and human-induced change. Over time, tree health, culture, and economics can be negatively affected by change factors including climate change, pests and/or diseases, regulatory actions, and shifting economic circumstances. In the current paper we describe strategies to leverage short- and long-term field trials for managing different types of change that impact tree improvement. Field trials like those presented here could be used to test new materials and processes, as well as serve as an early warning system that measures how various changes may be affecting local and regional tree health. We highlight three main strategies of Populus plantation culture for establishing field trials: 1) forest conversion, 2) low-resource, and 3) intensive culture hybrid poplar (ICHP) plantation cultures. In addition, we provide a field trial case study on the low-resource culture type. Replicated Populus plantation scenarios could incorporate a mix of native and proven hybrid poplar materials to assess the adaptive behavior of such genotypes across sites with varying soils, climatic conditions, and topography. These field trials could also serve as a long-term archive and clonal/gene pool resource for accelerated tree improvement. While the examples provided in this paper are unique to Michigan, USA, the strategies described are relevant globally for Populus and other fast-growing trees grown for environmental and ecosystem services.

Citation

McGovern, Patrick N.; Rogers, Elizabeth R.; Vinhal, Ryan A.; Zalesny Jr., Ronald S. 2023. Leveraging Populus field trials to manage environmental and human-induced change. In: IUFRO Eight International Poplar Symposium. IUFRO Working Party 2.08.04 Technical Paper. Vienna, Austria: International Union of Forest Research Organizations : 1- 27.