1. Pine Productivity Increases from Seedling Genetic Improvements
GFA Annual Meeting
Jekyll Island, GA
24 July 2016
David Dickens, Ph.D.
Forest Productivity Professor
UGA – WSF&NR

2. Current Status (2016) on Genetic Improve-ment for Loblolly, Longleaf and Slash Pine
Loblolly – has the most genetic improvement (due to commercial importance and largest native range) – 3rd cycle (gen) open pollinated (OP) widely available as well as MCP, CMP (closed pollinated) and clones (varietals)
Slash – intermediate genetic improvement - 2nd and 3rd cycle (gen) open pollinated (OP) available seedlings
Longleaf – the least genetic improvement with some improved seedlings available – ask for progeny test data to discern % gain over wild collected seed

3. Genetic Gains in Loblolly Pine
Ht age 6-yrs example: unimproved = 14 ft
2nd gen mixed = 16.1 ft
3rd gen OP = 18.2
MCP/CMP = 19.6 (7.7% gain vs 3rd gen OP)
Clones = 20.2 (11% gain vs 3rd gen OP)

5. Today

6. Tree Improvement Coops
Western Gulf Tree Improvement Coop
- Progeny tested families
- Selected material for clonal seed orchards
NCSU Tree Improvement Coop (primarily loblolly pine)
- Seedling Seed Orchards
- Grafted Seed Orchards
- Planned new progeny tests
University of Florida (primarily slash pine)
- Limited breeding

7. By: Tim White, Ph.D. Pine Genetics Professor, Dean UFL written in 2004

9. Seedlings: Open Pollinated vs Controlled Mass Pollination
Traditional Open Pollination Seed (OP)
Controlled Mass Pollination (CMP)
Wind Pollination
Unknown, Multiple Parents
Selected Parent
Selected Parent
Selected Parent
Performance is the average of the female
parent and the multiple unknown pollen donors.
Parental traits are poorly expressed.
15-30% gain over unimproved & variable by year.
Performance is the average of the selected
female and male parents.
Consistent repeatable performance and traits.
40-50% realized gain over unimproved.
CMP/MCP seedlings cost 2x to 3x+ OP seedlings 9

10. Clones or Varietals currently available for loblolly
Via Somatic embryogenesis (also by tissue culture and vegetative propagation)
Each seedling is genetically identical
Seedlings will behave essentially the same to environmental factors, herbicides, fertilization and other cultural practices
Expensive = $325 - $400/1000

11. Do we get the same result every time we plant OP, MCP/CMP or clones?
Just about all the time the answer is “NO”
For higher valued seedlings  must do higher level of site prep (often chemical + mechanical), herb weed control and fertilization  a large investment
Put better genetics on more productive sites, put OP on less productive sites

12. Note the variation from site to site comparing 2nd gen OP vs various varietals
For loblolly pine  From: Barry Shiver 2015

13. Performance rating system papers
P=100  approximately 100% greater stem volume at age 6-yrs vs unimproved
Questions  improvement vs OP elite (competitor option or best previous generation families?

14. Side by side trials
Case I

15. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co GA (performed on 4 locations)

16. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – OP slash 2YAP
Ave ht = 6.2 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <10%
Low tip moth
evidence

17. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – OP loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 6.4 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <10%
Moderate tip moth
evidence

18. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – AGM122 loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 6.5 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <10%
Moderate tip moth
evidence

19. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – AGV127 loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 7.4 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <5%
Moderate tip moth
evidence
15.6% greater ht
OP elite loblolly

20. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – AGV124 loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 8.5 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <5%
Moderate tip moth
Evidence
32.8% greater ht vs
OP elite loblolly

21. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – AGV105 loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 8.0 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <5%
Moderate tip moth
evidence
25% greater ht vs
OP elite loblolly

22. Side-by-side comparison – Screven Co, GA – AGV123 loblolly 2YAP
Ave ht = 8.9 ft
Ave surv=90+%
Ave defect <5%
Low tip moth
evidence
39% greater ht vs
OP elite loblolly

23. Side by side trials Case II
@ Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center
Loblolly OP Elite vs MCP vs Flex stand (OP and AGV107 in alternate rows) study
3 replications per genetics/stand type (plot=12 rows x120 ft long)
2011 pre-plant SP = rip to 18” Aug, 24 oz/ac imazapyr (54% ae) + 1 gal/ac glyphosate Sept
2012 hand plant (9’rows) Jan, 12 oz/ac ouster late April
Interior 6 rows x 60 ft measured

24. OP Elite Loblolly high planting density (5x9 ft =968TPA)
OP elite plots
4YAP
Plot#
rep #
dbh(in)
ht (ft)
% survival 3 1
3.47
18.47 72 5 2
3.77
19.89 85 8
3.51
19.14 67
means
3.6
19.2 75
<10% defect

25. MCP Loblolly low planting density (10x9 ft =484TPA)
MCP plots
4YAP
Plot#
Rep #
dbh (in)
ht (ft)
% survival 2 1
4.17
20.2 71 5
4.05 78 9 3
4.23
20.9 70
means
4.2
20.4 73
MCP dbh 0.6” (17%), ht 1.2’ (6%)
greater than OP elite 4 yr after
Planting, with < 5% defect
MCP d^2*ht (volume index) 44%
Greater than OP elite

26. AGV107 Loblolly Flex stand low planting density (alt row 10x18 ft =242TPA)
Plot #
Rep #
dbh (in)
ht (ft)
% survival 1
2.75
14.2 50 4 2
2.35
14.6 45 7 3
3.11
16.4 68
means
2.7
15.1 54
***AGV107 is no longer offered
This clone was most likely very
susceptible to the pre-plant herbicide
(Imazapyr)and the post-plant
Herbicide (oustar) compared to the
MCP and OP loblolly in this side-by-
side, replicated trial

27. 26 April 2016 site visits with Geoff Hill, Arborgen MCP and Varietal loblolly

28. Mass Closed Pollinated loblolly
Marginal site quality
Chopper+Garlon+Oust Extra
3 in 1 plow summer-fall 2012
Machine planted Jan 2013
1.2 – 2.7” dbh (2” ave), 7-15 ft ht (11 ft ave)
90-95% survival, < 5% defect
3 yrs old

29. Mass Closed Pollinated loblolly
MCP advanced loblolly
Wheeler Co, GA – excellent site quality
KG, burn, harrow, double bed (no herbicides) fall 2010
Machine plant Jan 2011
4.2 – 5.5” dbh, 22-26’ ht
90-95% survival, <5% defect
5 yrs old
Strong local sawtimber market with sawmill
within short haul distance (<40 miles)

30. Varietal loblolly (AGV 124)
Crawfordville, GA
Good site quality
Chopper+Accord+Oust Extra Sept 2009
Hand 8x12’ (454 TPA) Feb 2010 (6yrs old)
dbh= 3-5”, hts= 26’
90-95% survival, <5% defect

31. Paying more for improved genetics - Economics
Loblolly seedling genetics
Cost per 1000 ($)
Tree/acre (TPA) planting & cost/ac ($)
$ Difference between
OP – MCP and OP-V
5% discount rate for 24 yrs (3.2251x)
Open pollinated 75
605
($45.38/ac)
Mass Closed
Pollinated (MCP or CMP)
230
500
($115/ac)
-$69.62
$ in extra wood or wood value
Varietal
350
450
($157.50/ac)
- $112.12
$ in extra wood or wood value
In this example to make 5% on the MCP or varietal loblolly (vs buying OP) one needs to grow and extra $224.53/ac of more wood and/or wood value (MCP vs OP) or $361.60/ac (Var vs OP) $30/ton for ST need 7.5 tons/ac for MCP & 12 tons/ac extra ST for Varietal loblolly at age 24-yrs (remember the extra cost in this example is for improved genetics only – there will probably be extra site prep and post-plant costs as well)

32. Pine Genetics Summary
Our tree seedling nurseries and genetic improvement coops deserve much credit in
(1) providing high quality seedlings
(2) collectively improving the genetic quality of our seedlings over the last 60 yrs
Without the coops (UFL, NCSU and TX A&M &TX FS) and the seedling nurseries  we would not have available the seedlings we have today

33. Pine Genetics Summary
There is improved growth and stem form (less % defect) with better genetics overall  refer to “Performance Rating System”
The growth differences will most likely vary site by site and with changing inputs (herbicides, fertilization, etc)
One can not overlook stand mgmt.
Local markets (pulpwood, chip-n-saw, sawtimber product prices and demand) will influence genetics decisions
Each stand end result is a function of a number of factors (land use history, soils, site prep, pine species, genetics and post plant mgmt., weather)

34. Pine Genetics Summary Put best genetics on most productive sites
Keep in mind local wood markets
Generally when using best genetics, one will also spend more $$ on site prep and post plant mgmt. (HWC, fertilization) to max survival and growth
higher input cost/acre + higher seedling cost/acre = higher total cost/acre

35. 36 yr-old loblolly stand (Sharon GA) thinned twice
Questions ?