Tree Improvement & Seed Orchard Concerns: Survey Results & Discussion

1. Tree Improvement Issues:State Survey and Discussion Southern Research Station Hot Springs, AR June 8, 2015

2. Informal Survey of Southern State Forestry Commissions • Several questions asked, grouped under these three areas • 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • 2. primary concerns regarding seed orchard production • 3. information that landowners need regarding planting stock? • Four states responded (KY, SC, MS, AR)

3. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Pines • Loblolly, slash • Longleaf, shortleaf • Hardwoods • Oaks • cherrybark and nuttall • many others needed • Others • sycamore, basswood, sourwood, beech, yellow poplar, maple, plum, hazelnut

4. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Loblolly (SC, KY, MS), slash (only mentioned once) • Good levels of improvement available (SC, AR) • Concern over future given budget (SC) • Good diversity in orchards and clone banks • Wood quality, drought tolerance needed • Fusiform rust (SC manages with NCTIP info; AR virtually eliminated)

5. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Longleaf, shortleaf • SC-- limited selections in LL orchard; no shortleaf orchard (uses GA) • AR-- good shape with shortleaf • MS-- none, depends on others • Traits needed in longleaf– brown spot resistance, planting hardiness, early height emergence, growth rate and stem/tree form • No seed shortages reported, but concerns about optimal sources mentioned

6. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Oaks • cherrybark and nuttall species most mentioned in orchards and improvement programs • many others needed, with source-known supplies, optimal or local sources • Problems • inconsistent seed yields, inadequate seed sources, expensive to procure, lack of diversity in woods-run collections • Needs • better seed storage, later flowering, known sources, improved genetics, need access to more oak species; more support for WGFTIP • Traits– straightness, wood quality, later flowering

7. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Others-- sycamore, basswood, sourwood, beech, yellow poplar, maple, plum, hazelnut, etc. • Problems • Inconsistent seed yields, inadequate seed sources (supply and genetics), expensive to procure seed • Needs • better seed storage, known seed sources for collection, orchards to mange sources, yields, costs (even genetics) • Traits– survival, growth form; pest resistance-- chestnut and hemlock (non-hardwood)

8. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Seed source availability, management • Local source assumption most used • Some awareness of data that shows southern sources perform better • Most feel the need for more data, especially for hardwoods

9. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Conserving threatened species • From– is good (seed storage, conservation ‘safe’ plantings) -- to no urgency with evidence of some survivors -- responsible thing but low priority given budgets • Strategies • funding problem (KY, others) • diversity kept in • loblolly clone banks (SC) • hardwood species plantings (SC) • some special populations conserved (AR)

10. 1. primary concerns regarding genetic source material for restoration plantings • Climate change • From– nothing noticeable -- to changes in deployment already made (NCTIP in SC; WGFTIP ok to plant south of Arkansas River sources north of the river) • Good to know planting options (species/sources, new native ranges) in next 50 years (KY) • Drought tolerance becoming more important (AR)

11. 2. primary concerns regarding seed orchard production • Hybrids (pines) • From– not a concern -- to it’s natural and necessary -- to it’s a problem • AR-- medium for shortleaf (~1/5 years lob late enough to hybridize with shortleaf in a material way) • MS-- small for longleaf (~5% longleaf seedlings are hybrids)

12. 2. primary concerns regarding seed orchard production • Tree seed supply • KY-- challenged (due to many species needed, difficult to collect from) • Others-- were Ok, but varied confidence in sources • Grasses, forbs, shrubs for ecosystem restoration • From– some interest and needs -- to not applicable or asked for • (NRCS should have a main role in this)

13. 2. primary concerns regarding seed orchard production • Seed orchards status • KY-- continuing to add (oaks take a long time to produce) • SC-- program in mothballed • AR-- good shape continuing to add • MS-- none

14. 2. primary concerns regarding seed orchard production • Tree nurseries status • KY-- down to 2 from 4 (1 brand new; 1 upgraded, but needs more investment) • SC-- problems with budget due to low demand • AR-- more hardwood than pine since 2004 • MS-- none, depend on others

15. 3. information that landowners need regarding planting stock? • Genetic variation in seed supply • KY-- species the main issue, genetic variation not on radar • SC-- longleaf orchard to limited, no shortleaf they use GA • AR-- good shape that to WGFTIP, except for non-improved oak collections likely highly related • MS-- not aware

16. 3. information that landowners need regarding planting stock? • Container stock issues • From– none -- to lack of tap root in pine (although evidence is not compelling) • need to dig up older trees • no wind through issues reported