Progress 02/01/00 to 02/01/06
Outputs
Miniaturized seed orchards (MSO) are promising alternatives to conventional seed orchards. MSOs are designed to be intensively managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Seed crops are produced on numerous small, closely-spaced trees instead of fewer, wider-spaced, larger trees found in conventional orchards. The potential advantages of MSOs are: (1) increased genetic gains by facilitating controlled mass pollination and reducing pollen contamination; (2) earlier genetic gains (and financial returns) by producing operational amounts of seed at a younger age (because of the large number of trees per hectare); and (3) decreased seed orchard costs because the crowns are closer to the ground, thereby facilitating management techniques such as seed collection, pest management, and bloom delay. The goal of the Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study was to establish three types of miniaturized orchards that could then be compared over a 15-year period for quantity of flower
and seed production; ease and efficiency of management; and ramet health and seed quality. Our goal is to compare management regimes for the three alternative planting densities at an operational scale that will provide realistic estimates of management costs and seed yields for Douglas-fir. The MSO study is planted at a site owned by the Plum Creek Timber Company. Beginning in 2002, scions from 24 clones were field-grafted in row-plots onto planted rootstock. These row-plots were replicated in each of the 3 orchard spacings. We regrafted and transplanted grafts in 2003 and 2004 to replace grafts that had not become established during the initial two years. Rootstock lateral branches were gradually cut back after grafts were established. In addition to conventional dripline watering, an overhead sprinkler system was used from the time of grafting through late summer to help prevent the new grafts from drying out while graft unions were being formed. The overhead system will also
facilitate frost protection and bloom delay in the future. The Miniaturized Seed Orchard is now fully established. Site maintenance will continue, including crown height control, weed control, irrigation, and fertilization. We expect to initiate experimental treatments during the 2006 growing season.
Impacts
The main advantages of miniaturized seed orchards compared to conventional orchards are: (1) increased genetic gains; (2) reduced management costs; and (3) increased efficiency and ease of applying management practices. This study will help to determine how seed production will be affected by the change in seed orchard design and management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study is designed to compare three types of miniaturized orchards over 15 years for quantity of flower and seed production; ease and efficiency of management; and ramet health and seed quality. The goal is to compare the three orchard types to evaluate realistic management costs and determine economic efficiencies of these orchards. We completed another year of grafting for orchard establishment in March and April of 2004. Forward and backward selections were grafted into three orchard spacings (macro, mini, and micro). Grafting is now essentially complete, and replacement grafts will be transplanted into the orchard only for the few trees that have not survived. Along with water driplines, overhead irrigation has also been installed, which will be used for frost protection and bloom delay (i.e., control of flower phenology to minimize pollen contamination from outside of the orchard). The tallest trees were top-pruned in September 2004.
Crown maintenance will commence in 2005.
Impacts
The main advantages of miniaturized seed orchards compared to conventional orchards are: 1) increased genetic gains; 2) reduced management costs; and 3) increased efficiency and ease of applying management practices. This study will help to determine how seed production will be affected by the change in seed orchard design and management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study is designed to compare three types of miniaturized orchards over 15 years for quantity of flower and seed production; ease and efficiency of management; and ramet health and seed quality. The goal is to compare the three orchard types to evaluate realistic management costs and determine economic efficiencies of these orchards. We completed a second year of grafting for orchard establishment in March and April of 2003. Forward and backward selections were grafted into three orchard spacings (macro, mini, and micro). We anticipate a final year of grafting in 2004. Along with water driplines, overhead irrigation has also been installed, and is currently being used to maintain high relative humidity during the period when graft unions are forming. Overhead irrigation will later be used for frost protection and bloom delay (i.e., control of flower phenology to minimize pollen contamination from outside the orchard). Graduate Students =
0.
Impacts
The main advantages of miniaturized seed orchards compared to conventional orchards are: 1) increased genetic gains; 2) reduced management costs; and 3) increased efficiency and ease of applying management practices. This study will help to determine how seed production will be affected by the change in seed orchard design and management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
We completed the first year of grafting for the Miniaturized Seed Orchard Study in February and March of 2002. This study is designed to compare three types of miniaturized orchards for quantity of flower and seed production; ease and efficiency of management; and ramet health and seed quality. Forward and backward selections were grafted into the three orchard types (macro, mini and micro), two supplemental blocks (mini and micro), and one holding block. We will continue to make selections and graft again in 2003. We will compare the results from the three orchards to evaluate realistic management costs, seed yields and seed quality so that the economic efficiencies of these orchards can be determined. The orchards are being irrigated to enhance survival and growth, increase seed yields, and provide more effective control of frosts and flower phenology. Flower stimulation will be used to obtain early and sustained seed production. Graduate Students = 1.
Impacts
The advantages of miniaturized seed orchards compared to conventional orchards are: 1) increased genetic gains; and 2) reduced management costs. Yet it is unclear how seed production will be affected by the change in seed orchard design and management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
We plan to compare three orchard types, macro (416 stems/ha), mini (1,250 stems/ha), and micro (3,333 stems/ha), for quantity of flower and seed production, ease and efficiency of management, and ramet health and seed quality. All three orchards will be intensively managed for crown control and flower stimulation. Genetic quality of seeds and seed yield in these orchards are expected to be high due to early flower stimulation, high planting density, controlled mating and considerably reduced pollen contamination. Labor needs, management costs, and seed yields will be recorded and evaluated so that the economic efficiencies of these orchards can be determined. We: (1) prepared the orchard site following intensive cultivation; (2) laid-out the plantation into three orchard types (macro, mini and micro), two supplemental blocks (mini and micro), and a holding block; (3) raised and planted rootstock in these blocks; (4) installed an irrigation system; and (5) surveyed the
orchard rootstock for grafting suitability. Sixteen clones, eight each from forward and backward selections, will be grafted onto this rootstock in February 2002. To determine optimum levels of flower stimulation treatments, we also applied gibberellic acid and girdling treatments in spring 2001 to 2- and 4-year-old grafts in our Early Flowering Study. Graduate Students = 0.
Impacts
The main objectives of this study are to eliminate pollen contamination, induce early flowering on young grafts, and control crown size in the orchard trees. These measures will improve both genetic quality of the seed and efficiency of orchard management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
This study plans to compare three orchard types, macro (416 stems/ha), micro (1,250 stems/ha), and mini (3,333 stems/ha), for quantity of flower and seed production, ease and efficiency of management, and ramet health and seed quality. All three orchards will be intensively managed for crown control and flower stimulation. Genetic quality of seeds and seed yield in these orchards are expected to be high due to early flower stimulation, high planting density, ability to control mating, and elimination of pollen contamination. Labor needs, management costs, and seed yields will be recorded and evaluated so that the economic efficiencies of these orchards can be determined. In 2000, we selected a study site, met with the newly formulated Seed Orchard Advisory Committee, collected and analyzed soil samples from the study site, erected fencing around the site, fit the study plots on the test site following intensive cultivation, and monitored the growth of the rootstock in
the nursery. This rootstock will be planted in the orchard site in mid-January 2001. Graduate Students = 0
Impacts
The main objective of this study is to eliminate pollen contamination and control crown size in orchard trees to a manageable height, thus improving both genetic quality of the seed produced and efficiency of orchard management.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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