Tree Improvement Program Project Report 2006 / 2007

During this first year, the seed orchard parental
population (53 clones) and the SMP parents were
fingerprinted. Additionally, DNA samples from 1,300 pairs
of megagametopytes (haploid) and their corresponding
embryos (diploid) were extracted from a random sample of
the orchard’s bulk seed, and their fingerprinting is expected
to be completed during the second year.
Two data analyses approaches will be attempted,
one utilizing a computer program that was developed
specifically to handle bulk seed, and the second utilizing a
program developed by Slavov et al., 2005. These analyses
are expected to allow the determination of every clone’s
gametic contribution.
The results will aid in the accurate estimation of the
genetic worth and diversity of the orchard’s seedlot by
relating the DNA results to the visual assessments of
reproductive output. The resulting correlations will be used
to assess the various survey methods and to calibrate survey
methodologies as appropriate.
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.3 Mounta n P ne Beetle
Incremental Projects
.3.1 Pollen Management n
Lodgepole P ne Orchards:
Project 0 72 E
George N cholson
Young lodgepole pine orchards produce very little pollen in
the early years. This project was designed to collect pollen
from the older Thompson Okanagan 310 orchard and
reapply it to the young ramets in orchard 339.
The pollen was vacuum collected, and this allowed us to
reapply the pollen in the same season. We collected a total
of 10 litres of pollen and applied three litres to the orchard.
The balance of the pollen was put into freezer storage for
future use.
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
.3.2 Effect ve Crown Prun ng
n Lodgepole P ne: Project
0 7E2
George N cholson
This is a multi-year project designed to stimulate cone
production in the top third of the crown. Both top and
upper lateral branches were pruned.
We used mechanical shears to prune in most cases or a
small chain saw if stem diameter was too large. The level of
pruning in the orchards may reduce the cone production in
the year following, but this effect will not be long lasting.
During the fall of 2006, a total of 580 ramets were
top and lateral-branch pruned in the mature Thompson
Okanagan 310 orchard. We will top prune a further 1,000
ramets in orchard 339 in 2007 and 1,500 ramets in 2008.
The top pruning in the younger orchard will help control the
ramet height and increase the number of potential cone sites.
.3.3 Upgrad ng of Lodgepole P ne
Super or Provenance Seed:
Project 0 7E26
Dave Kolotelo
This project attempted to upgrade the germination of a
lodgepole pine superior provenance (Rocky Mountain
Trench) seed lot (2612 – collected 1972). In the past this
seed lot was approved for disposal for reasons associated
with poor germination (64 percent). It is an atypical seed
lot because its dry (D1) test has consistently performed
better than a stratified (G20) test. An inventory of 96 kg
of seed (equivalent to approximately 5.5 million seedlings)
exists, and we attempted to upgrade the seed lot because of
its size and its expanded range (BSH; EK; MRB; SA; TOD
and WK seed planning zones).
Seed-lot evaluations indicated the presence of
mechanical seed-coat damage, seed-coat chitting, and
heat damage. We used liquid separation of a partially
imbibed product and pre-vac to try and remove this
fraction (referred to as poor). The table following provides
an overview of the processing results. Germination of the
upgraded fraction increased only slightly (67 to 70 percent),