Programmes for breeding of hybrid larch in Germany

1. Programmes for breeding of hybrid larch in Germany Volker Schneck Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Institute of Forest Genetics, Waldsieversdorf

2. Introduction • The programme for breeding hybrid larch for the north-eastern German lowlands • The long-term breeding programme of hybrid larch by Prof. Langner • Open questions and problems

3. The genus Larix in Germany Area: European larch = 224 170 ha (3.2 %) Japanese larch and hybrids = 73 168 ha (0.7 %) Harvested seeds per year (mean of 10 years ): ELA = 270 kg = 5 400 000 plants = 1 500 ha JLA = 20 kg = 400 000 plants = 110 ha HLA = 75 kg = 1 500 000 plants = 425 ha 25 200 ha larch stands between 1 and 20 years old = 1 260 ha/year regenerated with larch~4 200 000 plants/year

4. Tested reproductive material for European, Japanese and hybrid larch in Germany

5. Places of hybrid larch breeding in Germany 1968 1954 1960 1935 1936 1985 1958 1950

6. The programme for breeding hybrid larch for the north-eastern German lowlands Aims • breeding of hybrid larch with • high productivity • good quality (stem form) • tolerance to different site condition • identification of parent trees with good combining ability • tested reproductive material according to the regulations of the EU and Germany • seed orchards • selection of outstanding trees for vegetative propagation

7. The programme for breeding hybrid larch for the north-eastern German lowlands Discription • 1950-1965 selection of plus trees and establishing of two clone archives with 970 different plus tree clones (780 L. decidua and 190 L. kaempferi) • 1968-1989 three series of controlled crossings mostly between L. decidua and L. kaempferi (250 combinations – incomplete dialles) • 1974 three trials with 81 progenies • 1986 two trials with 49 progenies • 1992 five trials with 42 progenies

8. The programme for breeding hybrid larch for the north-eastern German lowlands Trials D F 1974 1986 1992

9. Progeny test hybrid larch 1974 - height 2005 Mean and range for groups of progenies (ELA=100 %) [m] 110.5 % 109.1 % 110.2 % 106.1 % 104.3 % 109.1 % 108.6 % 103.5 % 94.3 % 89.9 % Floessberg Pfefferteich Luebz

10. Progeny test hybrid larch 1974 – single tree volume 2005 Mean and range for groups of progenies (ELA=100 %) [dm³] 123.7 % 123.1 % 123.8 % 129.6 % 127.4 % 84.2 % 121.9 % 111.7 % 78.9 % 98.1 % Floessberg Pfefferteich Luebz

11. Progeny test hybrid larch 1974 – percentage of well-formed trees 2005 Mean and range for groups of progenies % Floessberg Pfefferteich Luebz

12. Progeny test hybrid larch 1974 – selection index 2005

13. The programme for breeding hybrid larch for the north-eastern German lowlands • Results • better growth performance of many hybrid progenies compared with pure European larch (up to 30 % better than the best European larch) = verification of former results about superior growth of hybrid larch • significant interactions between progenies and sites for most traits in all series • weak correlation between stem form and growth traits • identification and selection of parent trees fulfilling the requirements for the approval as “parents of families” • 2006 planting of one hybrid larch seed orchard (two clones)

14. The long-term breeding programme of hybrid larch by Prof. Langner Aims • evidence of superiority of hybrid larch • low expense of work • sufficient genetic diversity • testing of progenies of many different plus trees on different sites • identification of mother trees with a good general combining ability • developing of a appropriate procedure for production of hybrid seeds

15. The long-term breeding programme of hybrid larch by Prof. Langner Discription • 1955/56 selection of plus trees of Larix decidua in natural stands in the Alps and in secondary stands • establishing of a clone archive with 435 different plus tree clones of Larix decidua • 1965-1986 production of hybrid seeds without isolation of female flowers and artificial pollination • 81 progenies (L. decidua x L. kaempferi), 8 mixed stands, 21 stands pure L. decidua or L. kaempferi • 1972-1989 planting of 30 progeny tests • 19 sites more suitable for Japanese larch • 11 sites more suitable for European larch

16. clone B clone A clone C clone D clone E European larch Japanese larch

17. The long-term breeding programme of hybrid larch by Prof. Langner Test sites

18. Annual basal area increment for different groups of progenies

19. Annual height increment for different groups of progenies

20. Percentage of well-formed trees for different groups of progenies

21. The long-term breeding programme of hybrid larch by Prof. Langner Results • The results verify the superior growth performance of hybrids between Larix decidua and L. kaempferi. • Good survival and superior growth of hybrid larch under very different site conditions indicate a high level of adaptability. • Identification of 6 progenies which combine growth performance and good quality as well as 8 additional progenies which good growth or good quality. • Mother trees usable for establishing seed orchards • 1992 approval of a seed orchard (“Kuechengarten” – LOLA 1) – average percentage of hybrids=80 %

22. Open questions and problems (Germany) • open questions: • growth of older hybrid larch • wood traits and diseases (canker) • stimulation of planting hybrid larch in practical forestry • integration of hybrids in the close-to-nature siviculture • very low interest in planting hybrid larch • no new activities for breeding of hybrid larch • Clone archives are old and difficult and expensive to manage = danger of loss of the basis for larch breeding.