Tree Improvement Program Project Report 2006 / 2007

.1.2 Sechelt Seed
Orchard
Patt Brown
Douglas-fir
Due to a lack of induction response and a very wet, cold
pollination period in 2006, only 75 of the original 380
induced trees had any cones left on them. Those trees had
been SMP’d and were subsequently part of a trial to test
new systemic insecticides.
In the high-elevation Douglas-fir orchard, 150 trees
from orchard 116 were induced with GA 4/7 in late spring
of 2006. This, together with the dry weather in late spring
2006, has resulted in a heavy crop year for this orchard in
2007.
Western redcedar
This project continues to maintain the redcedar ramets
from test series 1 through 6 in the holding beds at Sechelt.
In addition, 60 of the original age 20 Series 2 grafts were
induced in the summer of 2006 with GA 3 .
Pollen was collected from the top 20 percent of parents
from Series 2 and reapplied to 100 crop trees in orchard
186 in February/March of 2007.
Western wh te p ne
MGR pollen was collected from the MGR-identified trees
in the Robert’s Creek test site and reapplied to all female
cones produced in 2006 in orchard 174.
The 600 cone-producing ramets were monitored and
spot treated for Leptoglossus control on a regular basis
throughout the seed production season. Undeveloped cones
attacked by Conopthorus were collected and burned before
the cone collection season for future control purposes.
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
.1.3 Mt Newton Seed
Orchard
(T mberWest)
T m Crowder
Douglas-fir
SPU 0106 covers activities in four Fdc M Low orchards:
134, 154, 183, and 197. Orchards 134 and 154 are mature
orchards that are rogued and upgraded as new ramets are
available. Orchard 183 is a younger orchard that is in full
production, while orchard 197 is in the establishment
phase.
In 2006, because there was a small crop and the pollen
cloud was light, SMP was applied to all crop trees in all
orchards, particularly early- and late-flowering clones.
Cones were monitored for Contarinia midge and other
pests, and because infestation levels were high, all crop trees
were treated with dimethoate using an air-blast sprayer.
Nearly 1,400 ramets were induced by stem injection
of GA 4/7 to produce a crop in 2007. All four orchards
were fertilized by injection through the irrigation system,
and newly planted trees were top-dressed with a granular
fertilizer and hand-watered as necessary.
In the fall, 390 young grafted ramets were transplanted
into empty spots in the orchards.
In our grafting program we use large (PSB 1015)
containerized root stock, which allows us to produce ramets
that are ready for transplanting into the orchard within
one year. Over 1,000 new ramets of high BV clones are
being grafted in the fourth quarter of this project for future
upgrading of the Douglas-fir orchards.
Western Redcedar
SPU 0205 covers activities in two Cw M Low orchards: 140
and 152. These two orchards are similar in composition
and are typically induced in alternating years to provide a
steady seed supply. In 2006, orchard 140 yielded over 2.4
kg of seed with a GW of +7%.
Both of the cedar orchards contain large original ramets
as well as small high-gain ramets from test series 1 and 2.
One hundred of these younger ramets were induced by
spraying with GA 3 for a crop in 2007.
Grafted ramets from test series 3 were maintained in
a holding bed. Grafts from test series 4 through 6 were
maintained in a potted holding area, then transplanted to
a holding bed in the fall of 2006. A total of 2,100 grafts
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