Highlights of 2001-2002

• Glenn Howe agreed to become Director of PNWTIRC and Assistant Professor of forest genetics in the Department of Forest Science.
• Two new members joined the PNWTIRC: Port Blakely Tree Farms and Pope Resources (which includes their subsidiary, Olympic Resource Management).
• Six journal articles and abstracts were completed (i.e., published or in press) and the PNWTIRC staff gave eight presentations.
• The PNWTIRC Program Description and Memorandum of Agreement were updated.
• We developed 7 new SSR genetic markers and conducted detailed analyses of our full set of 22 SSRs in the Pollen Contamination Study. We also demonstrated the value of these markers for genotype identification. Using only three of our SSR markers, we were able to test the identity of two parent trees (i.e., field selections) that were about to be included in an operational seed orchard. Although one parent was correctly identified in the field (and included in the seed orchard), the other tree was not the desired parent, and was discarded.
• We identified 7 ‘high-priority’ research topics to be addressed in the new PNWTIRC 5-year plan. These topics are (1) field validation of early testing for adaptability, (2) genetics of growth and yield modeling, (3) gene conservation, (4) tools for accelerating genetic gains, (5) genomics, (6) wood quality, and (7) genotype x silviculture and site interactions.
• We completed the first grafting for the Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study in February and March of 2002. Forward and backward selections were grafted into three orchard types (macro, mini and micro), two supplemental blocks (mini and micro), and one holding block.
• In the spring of 2002, we measured the results of the early flowering treatments that were applied in the spring of 2001 (Early Flowering Study). Gibberellic acid and girdling treatments were applied to 2- and 4-year-old grafts in the Vaughn and NWCTGA seed orchards. The combined GA/girdling treatment significantly increased female flowering on both the 2- and 4-year-old grafts, but only increased male flowering on the older trees. The same treatments were applied in the spring of 2002, and new treatments were applied to test different levels of GA.
• We held a workshop entitled Genetic Improvement of Wood Quality in Coastal Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock. This workshop was held on 27 June, 2002 in collaboration with the Northwest Tree Improvement Cooperative (NWTIC).

Full Report PDF