Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the course of this project, 61 cultivars were developed as street-tree and for electric distribution lines and tested in 78 municipalities. Callery pear cultivars exhibited good survival and health, with one short cultivar, Autumn Blaze, growing to appropriate heights when planted under wires, to only 21 feet tall after 12 years. Growth rates of all 22 of the crabapple cultivars tested leveled off at 12 years at heights near or below 25 feet. Differences among the lilac cultivars were small, and all were suitable for planting under wires. The serviceberry cultivars all performed well in both spacious sites and along downtown streets. The seed orchards that were established over twenty years ago for Scotch pine and Douglas-fir Christmas tree varieties developed at Penn State continue to produce seed, including in the 2009 growing season, however seed set is highly variable from year to year. When seed set is good, cones are harvested by the Penn TIP cooperative and seed is distributed to the regional Christmas tree industry for their use and feedback. Pine beetle mortality in our Scotch pine seed orchards began several years ago and mortality is advancing rapidly. Rhabdocline needle cast disease is affecting the Douglas-fir seed orchard trees. These urgent problems require alternate strategies to preserve and propagate the tree cultivars developed over many years of breeding. In response, we pursued a micropropagation system for multiplication of the Douglas-fir seed orchard trees as shoots in tissue culture. We obtained a highly efficient shoot propagation system, however we did not obtain sufficient rooting frequencies for a production system. Funding for the micropropagation research by the PA Department of Agriculture has completed. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Henry Gerhold, Professor Emeritus of Forest Genetics, initiated this project and was the principle investigator until his retirement. Paul Lupo, Research Specialist in the School of Forest Resources, is responsible for managing the field studies and seed orchards in the project, including assessing trees for seed collections. PhD student Chien-Chih Chen conducted his thesis research on Christmas tree micropropagation within this project. Undergraduate student research assistants helped with the tissue culture and field aspects of the project, including Devon Lucabaugh, Angela Lieb, Kevin Kwan, Lindsay Spishock, Erin Yener, Toby Powell, and honors student Eric Dice. Partner organizations include the PA Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Pennsylvania Tree Improvement Program and its member companies. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audiences are primarily the national and state Christmas Tree Growers Associations, municipalities, the nursery industry, power companies, public tree breeding programs, and the scientific community (specifically forest genetics, urban forestry and biotechnology). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A change in leadership of this project occurred with the retirement of Dr. Henry D. Gerhold on December 31, 2007. After Dr. Gerhold's retirement, Professor John Carlson in the School of Forest Resources assumed the official leadership role in the project. Dr. Gerhold continued to work on the project with municipal cooperators on selection of landscape trees, as Emeritus Professor with Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Carlson was responsible for the Christmas tree aspects of the project, and supervising staff and students working to the project.
Impacts
Information from the street-tree cultivar tests on appropriate trees to plant under electric utility wires was distributed to utility companies which are using this information for approving cultivars planted through grants awarded to municipalities through the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council. The book "Landscape Tree Factsheets" and the "Landscape Tree Factsheets" CD produced in this project are being used throughout the United States, encouraging the proper selection of trees to be planted in communities, and their proper care after planting. The seed orchards for Scotch pine and Douglas-fir Christmas tree varieties continue to be valued by the local and regional Christmas tree growers as a unique source of improved seed. At a September 9, 2009, meeting of the Pennsylvania Tree Improvement Program (PennTIP), industry participants confirmed their commitment to the long term viability of the seed orchard system. A business plan will be developed for enhancing and sustaining management of the orchards into the future.
Publications
- Chen, C.C., A. Traore, J.E. Carlson, and R.M. Bates. 2009. Effect of media pH and 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) micropropagation system. In: Proceedings of 9th International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference. 3 pp.
- Stevenson, T.R., Gerhold, H.D., Elmendorf, W.F. 2008. Attitudes of Municipal Officials Toward Street Tree Programs in Pennsylvania. U. S. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 34(3):144-151.
- Carlson, J.E., A. Traore, H.A. Agrama, and K.V. Krutovsky. 2007. Douglas-fir. In: Genome Mapping & Molecular Breeding in Plants Vol. 7 - Forest Trees, (Ed, C. Kole), Springer Heidelberg, Berlin, New York, and Tokyo. pp 199-210.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Measurements and analyses continued for 29 remaining cultivar tests. Altogether 61 cultivars developed as street-tree and for electric distribution lines have been tested in 78 municipalities. Our Callery pear cultivars exhibited good survival and health, but proved to be too tall to be planted under wires, with the exception of the shortest cultivar, Autumn Blaze, which was only 21 feet tall after 12 years at one location. Growth rates of all 22 of the crabapple cultivars that were tested leveled off at 12 years at heights near or below 25 feet. Differences among the lilac cultivars were small, and all were suitable for planting under wires. The serviceberry cultivars all performed well in both spacious sites and along downtown streets. The seed orchards that were established over twenty years ago for Scotch pine and Douglas-fir Christmas tree varieties developed at Penn State have been bearing seed for over ten years, but seed set is highly variable. When seed set is good, cones are harvested and seed distributed to the regional Christmas tree industry for their feedback. Pine beetle mortality in our Scotch pine seed orchards began several years ago and mortality is now advancing rapidly. Rhabdocline needle cast disease affects the Douglas-fir seed orchard trees as well. In other programs, Fraser fir seed orchards are in risk of insect devastation. These urgent problems require alternate strategies to preserve and propagate the tree cultivars developed over many years of breeding. In response, we are pursing clonal, grafted and hedged orchards and biotechnology. In the area of cwe are developing a micropropagation system for efficient growth, survival, and multiplication of Douglas-fir shoots in tissue culture. Research is focusing on improving rooting of micropropagated shoots and the movement of plants from tissue culture to greenhouse conditions. Large numbers of new shoot cultures are being tested. Funding for the micropropagation research is provided by the PA Department of Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: PhD student Chien-chi Chen is conducting his thesis research on Christmas tree micropropagation within this project. Several undergraduate student research assistants helped with the tissue culture and field aspects of the project, including Devon Lucabaugh, Angela Lieb, Kevin Kwan, Lindsay Spishock Erin Yener, Toby Powell, and honors student Eric Dice. Paul Lupo, Research Specialist in the School of Forest Resources, is responsible for managing our field studies and seed orchards, including seed collections. Partner organizations include the PA Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Pennsylvania Tree Improvement Program and it's member companies. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audiences are primarily the national and state Christmas Tree Growers Associations, municipalities, power companies, and the scientific community (specifically the forest genetics, urban forestry and biotechnology disciplines), as well as public tree breeding programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A change in leadership of this project occurred with the retirement of Dr. Henry D. Gerhold on December 31, 2007. After Dr. Gerhold's retirement, Professor John Carlson in the School of Forest Resources assumed the official leadership role in the project. Dr. Gerhold holds an Emeritus Professor rank with The Pennsylvania State University, and he continues to work with municipal cooperators to measure landscape trees and analyze the data for publication from this project. Dr. Gerhold's research continues to be supported by the Urban & Community Forestry Council. Dr. Carlson is responsible for the Christmas tree aspects of the project.
Impacts
Information from cultivar tests is being used to select appropriate trees to plant under electric utility wires, thus reducing power interruptions and line clearance costs. Utility companies are using this information for approving cultivars planted through grants awarded to municipalities through the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council. The book "Landscape Tree Factsheets" and the "Landscape Tree Factsheets CD" are being used throughout the United States, encouraging the proper selection of trees to be planted in communities, and proper care after planting.
Publications
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. A Forester's Legacy: The Life of Joseph E. Ibberson. Stackpole Books. 208 pp.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. A Century of Forest Resources Education at Penn State: Serving Our Forests, Waters, Wildlife, and Wood Industries. Pennsylvania State University Press. 280 pp.
- Stevenson, T.R., H.D. Gerhold, and W.F. Elmendorf. 2008. Attitudes of Municipal Officials Toward Street Tree Programs in Pennsylvania. U. S. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 34(3):144-151.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2008. Serviceberry Cultivars Tested as Street Trees: Second Report. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 34(2):129 - 132.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Sixty cultivar tests have been measured for the last time in their 12th year, and measurements and analyses from the 29 remaining tests are continuing. Altogether 61 cultivars have been tested in 78 municipalities. Publications were completed for Callery pears, crabapples, tree lilacs, and serviceberries, identifying many cultivars which are appropriate for planting under electric distribution lines. All nine of the Callery pear cultivars exhibited good survival and health, but proved to be too tall to be planted under wires; the shortest, "Autumn Blaze", tested at just one location, was only about 21 feet tall after 12 years but still growing. Growth rates of all 22 of the crabapple cultivars that were tested were leveling off at 12 years at heights near or below 25 feet. Fifteen cultivars had very healthy foliage, and even the others retained more than half their foliage at summer's end. Differences among the three tree lilac cultivars were small, and all were suitable for
planting under wires. In the serviceberry tests Cumulus and Robin Hill, attaining about 23 feet in the twelfth year, were about six feet taller than Autumn Brilliance and Tradition. These cultivars and four others that were not tested as extensively were performing well especially in more spacious sites, but even along downtown streets.
PARTICIPANTS: Henry D Gerhold
TARGET AUDIENCES: Municipal Tree Restoration Program Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council
Impacts
Information from cultivar tests is being used to select appropriate trees to plant under electric utility wires, thus reducing power interruptions and line clearance costs. Utility companies are using this information for approving cultivars planted through grants awarded to municipalities through the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council. The book "Landscape Tree Factsheets" and the "Landscape Tree Factsheets CD" are being used throughout the United States, encouraging the proper selection of trees to be planted in communities, and proper care after planting.
Publications
- Gerhold, H.D., and J.D. Kuser, Ed. 2007. Origins of urban forestry. Chapter1 in Urban and Community Forestry in the Northeast. 2nd Ed. Springer Publishing Co. pp. 1-23.
- Gerhold, H.D., W. Porter, and J.E. Kuser, Ed. 2007. Selecting trees for community landscapes. Chapter11 in Urban and Community Forestry in the Northeast. 2nd Ed. Springer Publishing Co. pp. 183-198.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. Callery pear cultivars tested as street trees: final report. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 33(2):153-156.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. Tree lilac cultivars tested as street trees: second report. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 33(3):182-184.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. Crabapple cultivars tested as street trees: third report. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 33(3):176-181.
- Gerhold, H.D. 2007. Reactions to carbon sequestration and global warming. Penna Forests. 98(2):18.
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