Highlights of 2002-2003

• The PNWTIRC is 20 years old!
• Marilyn Cherry began as Assistant Director of the PNWTIRC in March 2003.
• Boise Corporation joined the PNWTIRC.
• We completed five journal articles and abstracts (i.e., published or submitted) and 11 presentations that deal with PNWTIRC research projects.
• In the Pollen Contamination Study, we mapped 20 of our 22 highly variable SSRs to 10 linkage groups in Douglas-fir. We submitted a manuscript and distributed a PNWTIRC report describing the development of these markers. We used our SSRs to (1) measure seed and pollen contamination and (2) determine the relative maternal and paternal contributions of the clones in the orchard. In collaboration with the National Forest Genetic Electrophoresis Laboratory (NFGEL), we developed a protocol and measured the success of supplemental mass pollination for 6 crosses from the Weyerhaeuser program. Our results indicate that SSR markers are a valuable tool for Douglas-fir tree improvement programs. We identified two areas of future research that will be added to our mix of research topics: (1) how to incorporate genetic improvement into growth models and (2) the genetics of wood quality.
• A second year of grafting was carried out in the Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study in March and April of 2003. Forward and backward selections were grafted into three orchard types (macro, mini, and micro) and two supplemental blocks (mini and micro).
• We measured the results of the early flowering treatments that were applied in spring 2002 (Early Flowering Study). Gibberellic acid and girdling treatments were applied to 3- and 5-year-old grafts in the Vaughn and PNWCTA seed orchards. The combined GA/girdling treatment significantly increased the number of female cones on both the 3- and 5-year-old grafts, and increased the number of pollen cones and proportion of trees bearing seed cones in the 5-year-old orchard. Large clonal responses were observed. Flower stimulation treatments did not impede growth. Our results indicate the potential for obtaining commercially harvestable crops in just a few years after orchard establishment.
• We held a workshop entitled Genomics of Douglas-fir: Implications for applied tree improvement and gene conservation in collaboration with the Institute of Forest Genetics—USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station and the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Full Report PDF