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Tree Improvement Cycle

Tree Improvement Cycle. Creating a Better T ree. Tree Improvement. Application of knowledge to produce superior trees Improvement can be made in: -Trees’ growth rate -Disease resistance -Stem, wood and/or fiber quality. Tree Selection. Find “good” trees

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Tree Improvement Cycle

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  1. Tree Improvement Cycle Creating a Better Tree

  2. Tree Improvement • Application of knowledge to produce superior trees • Improvement can be made in: -Trees’ growth rate -Disease resistance -Stem, wood and/or fiber quality

  3. Tree Selection • Find “good” trees • Collect their seeds or take cuttings • Cross bred them • Test the offspring • Select the best of the offspring • Repeat • Easy?

  4. What is a “good” tree? Crown: Narrow; Short vs. height of tree; healthy Branches: small diameter Stem: Straight; low taper; high volume vs. neighbors; disease and/or insect resistant; high quality wood

  5. Selection • Select trees in natural stands based on physical characteristics; superior growth, form, reduce disease and/or insect damage.

  6. Collect seeds or take grafts • To preserve the genetic material, seeds of the selected tree or twigs are collected to graft on to root stock.

  7. Test Offspring • Testing involves growing seedlings of each parent and comparing them to other selected seedlings to determine the capability of the parents to pass on their genetic superiority.

  8. Breeding • Breeders isolate young flowers of parent trees so that unwanted pollen can not contaminate the tree.

  9. Seed Orchard • Select the best of the offspring to establish a seed orchard • Repeat the process

  10. Time • It takes 6-8 years before one receives useful results from testing • About 10 years after a seed orchard is establish it will produce seed for reforestation

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