Tree Improvement Program Project Report 2006 / 2007

Low-elevat on Western Hemlock Crop
Enhancement
Supplemental mass pollination was applied to the
2006 western hemlock crop, focussing on clones with
a propensity to self. A small crop of 2.8 hl of cones was
harvested. Extraction of the crop netted 2.7 kg of seed,
reflecting good seed set. The genetic worth of this seedlot,
as registered on SPAR, is 14.
To determine if the pollen cloud in this orchard of
mid-size trees is adequate or whether supplemental mass
pollination for seed set is still required, two replicates of
10 clones were selected for a comparison of seed set. Each
selected ramet was a “crop tree” showing good female
flower abundance. One of the two replicates of each clone
received supplemental mass pollination, and the second
did not. At harvest, a sample of 10 cones from each ramet
was evaluated for seed set. No significant differences in the
F gure 1 . A controlled poll nat on crop s managed n
the western redcedar seed orchard at Saan ch Forestry
Centre to address the effects of selfing and to ass st n
m dge control.
T R E E I M P R O V E M E N T P R O G R A M
P R O J E C T R E P O R T 2 0 0 6 / 2 0 0 7
number of filled seed per cone were detected between those
cones that received supplemental mass pollination and
those that did not, with an average of 13.8 and 11.3 filled
seeds per cone respectively.
H gh-elevat on Western Hemlock Orchard and
Future Crop Enhancement
Ramet replacement continued with the planting of 185
ramets. Extensive site preparation was undertaken to
improve the survival of hemlock. The orchard now has a
breeding value of 11 and includes 28 parents.
All ramets with a crop were treated with supplemental
mass pollination in the first quarter. Pollen was harvested,
extracted, and stored for application to future crops. A
small crop of 0.3 hl of cones was harvested from the highelevation
hemlock orchard. Only a portion of the crop was
F gure 19. The 2007 low elevat on western hemlock crop
at the Saan ch Forestry Centre demonstrated good seed
set, del ver ng seed w th a genet c worth of 1 .
21