Douglas-fir breeding in Germany Partner N° 6, 7 and 8 Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Folie 1

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 2 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Introduction history of Douglas-fir to Germany 1831: Introduction to Germany by John R. Booth (owner of a tree nursery in Klein-Flottbeck near Hamburg) : First cultivation under forest conditions (supported a. o. by Bismarck) Failure and success ›Needle cast ›Frost ›Growth

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 3 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Establishment of provenance trials Testing original provenances ›1910 Douglas provenance trial ›1932/33 Douglas Fir provenance trial ›1958 International Douglas Fir provenance trial ›1970 International IUFRO-Douglas Fir provenance trial (I./II phase) Testing introduced material mainly of unknown origin ›1984 East-German provenance trial ›1988 Hesse provenance trial ›2006 German provenance trial

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 4 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Distribution of Douglas-fir in Germany Species of „minor importance“  No distribution map available Total forest area of Germany: 11, ha = 31 % of land area (BWI² 2004) Douglas-fir area: ha = 1,7 % of forest area (BWI²) >Range from ha in Rhineland-Palatinate (5,7 %) to 756 ha in Saxony (0,2 %) >Main growing areas (> 2 %): Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden- Wuerttemberg, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein >Major reforestation areas: Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden- Wuerttemberg, Hesse

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 5 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Major use of Douglas-fir Volume production/year: 660,000 m³ ( ) Major uses ›Veneer- and plywood industry ›Constructional wood suitable for medium up to heavy demand, ›Wall covering, parquet ›Shipbuilding ›Lumber for roof truss ›Wood pulp industry

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 6 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Procurement of Douglas-fir FRM Douglas fir under the „German Act of Forest Reproductive Material“ (FoVG from ) SelectedQualifiedTested N°haN° Seed stands 2,2933, Seed orchards Parent of families --- 3

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 7 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Procurement of Douglas-fir FRM Data on seed procurement presented by H.-M. Rau Quality control of FRM according to FoVG › Weight, purity, moisture content, germination capacity and viability › No genetic control of seeds Availability › 2,300 seed stands (3000 ha = 1.7%): mean area of 1.3 ha › Regional differences regarding number of stands and seed harvest In most cases, unknown origin of older stands

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 8 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding In-situ conservation Preservation measureuntil In-situ-stands (N)29072 In-situ-stands (area in ha)372,9135,2 In-situ-single trees (N)5114 Delineation not in every state No coherent criteria

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 9 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Ex-situ conservation Activities not in every state Especially in states with breeding institutions Preservation measureuntil Ex-situ-stands (N)1081 Ex-situ-stands (area in ha) Seed orchards (N)121 Seed orchards (area in ha) Seed orchards fam./clone61370

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 10 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Selection of provenances descending from seed sources originating from natural distribution area Selection of provenances descending from seed stands established in Germany Selection of intra-specific progenies descending from controlled crosses between and among the varieties Current breeding programmes

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 11 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Regions with comparable site conditions (geology, soil, climate, altitude) called “Provenance area” Recommendations related to the use of Douglas-fir forest reproductive material based on Provenance areas Breeding zones defined for Douglas-fir

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 12 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 13 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Around stands in the category selected Regional distribution quite inhomogenous Stands mainly pure, homogenous and even-aged Hybrid-breeding populations › About 850 clones of coastal and interior variety › 104 full-sib-F1-families › 3 full-sib-F2-families Breeding populations

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 14 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Provenance which contribute the most to the Douglas-fir breeding population Coastal variety in regions with climate influenced by the Atlantic Interior variety in regions with climate influenced by the continent

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 15 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Phenotypic selection of single trees/ populations: Establishment of seed orchards, basic material for crossings Genotypic selection of populations/ seed orchard progenies according to the results of field- and laboratory-experiments Breeding methodology and strategy

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 16 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Controlled crossing of single trees Genotypic selection of progenies according to the results of field- and laboratory-experiments Establishment of clone-lines by development of in- vitro-propagation techniques based on selected and approved reproductive material Breeding methodology and strategy

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 17 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Establishment of clone-lines

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 18 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding At minimum 2 trial sites Number of plants: 16-49/plot and 3-4 replications per population/progeny Minimum period for evaluation: 15 years Assessment of survival, height, diameter, volume, damages (frost, drought), pest and diseases, stem form, branchiness in the field Frost resistance, drought tolerance in the lab Allozyme based inventory of seed stands Evaluation strategy

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 19 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Most investigated tree species in Germany For most states recommendations for the use Douglas-fir provenances do exist Limited number of seed stands, seed orchards, F1- progenies is already tested and some basic material is already approved for the procurement of FRM, category tested Still lack of knowledge regarding the origin of local artificial populations Major results

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 20 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Coastal variety: high yield, different quality traits, low resistance against frost and Phaeocryptopus needle cast, high resistance against Rhabdocline needle cast Interior variety: low yield, different quality traits, high resistance against frost and Phaaeocryptopus needle cast, low resistance against Rhabdocline needle cast Big variation at provenance level within the variety Hybrids: in several progenies – high yield and frost resistance could be combined together with average branchiness and needle cast resistance Results on genetic variability studies

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 21 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Trial plot Kirchschneise: Height in the age 17 a

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 22 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Achieved or expected gains depending on reference > Standard > Average > Worst case Achieved gain > Height growth 130 % to 200 % > Diameter 145 % to 250 % > Volume 180 % to 300 % (120 m³/ha – 366 m³/ha) Expected/achieved gains

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 23 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Significant failures Increase of needle cast infections also in selected material due to increasing infestation pressure Failure of plantation due to frost (early, winter) Unsufficient growth and quality of plantations

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 24 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Deployment strategy Recommendations for the use of Douglas-fir FRM based on scientific results by the states Recommendations obligatory for public owned forest administrations and companies Recommendations only obligatory for private owned forest companies and private forest owners if tax payers money is involved by subsidies

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 25 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Plans for the next years Assessment of genetic structures of Douglas-fir basic material to get information on › Variety › Composition of the mixture › Approval of basic material Evaluation of approval and control system for FRM in the USA Evaluation of status and condition of IUFRO/EU- stands

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 26 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Introduction of FRM: Example Alder Lake (IUFRO-provenance 1081)

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 27 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Plans for the next years Establishment of new seed orchards Approval of populations in the category tested Development of clonal FRM based on in-vitro- propagation And the prospects???

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 28 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Norway spruce – Change of vitality

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 29 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Climate change Role of Douglas-fir More applied research on provenance variation Taking regions of provenances into consideration which are not considered at present Prospects

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst Author: Heino Wolf & Doris Krabel 30 Department: Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Thank you very much