This project aims to promote the planting of the best quality Sitka planting stock and take forward the Sitka spruce breeding programme.
Research objectives
- To secure the supply of control pollinated full-sibling seed for use by the vegetatively propagated (VP) Sitka spruce cuttings industry
- To encourage the planting of best quality Sitka spruce clonal seed orchards ensuring panmixes (equal contribution of component clones) at harvest so retaining wide genetic diversity
- To continue the Sitka spruce breeding programme, increasing further the genetic gains for vigour but particularly stem and wood quality traits
- To demonstrate the value, and promote the planting of improved Sitka spruce stock within the forestry sector
- To embrace new technologies (tissue culture, DNA-sequencing) as appropriate which help meet objectives in a faster, more cost-effective manner.
Results so far
- Formed in early 2014 as the Sitka Spruce Breeding Co-op, the Conifer Breeding Co-operative is already producing seed for sale to the VP industry.
- New clonal archives are in preparation replacing the aged and over-grown existing clonal archives where controlled pollination has historically proved very costly.
- Plans are in place to monitor the contribution of components clones in seed orchards to ensure relative equal contributions (panmixes).
- Acoustic Velocity data are being collected from existing full-sibling field trials which will add to our knowledge of timber stiffness to be incorporated into plans for future controlled pollinations
Status
- The CBC has grown out of the Sitka spruce breeding programme which was started in the late 1960s
- Members consist of Forest Research and other interested industrial partners in tree nurseries and forest management
- Newly calculated genetic gains are published on the Conifer Breeding Co-operative website.
Related Products/Services
- The main output of this co-operative venture between Forest Research and private industry is high-quality improved planting stock in the form of seedlings from the latest seed orchards or rooted cuttings of full-sibling families following controlled pollination and multiplication using vegetative propagation.
- There is an annual pollination programme to generate new seed for sale to industry
- There is an annual field-trial assessment programme to improve Breeding Value data for traits related to quality or growth rate.
Funders and partners
- Funding is an equal partnership between Forest Research and Conifer Breeding Co-operative members from across the private forestry industry.
Forestry Commission policy
Ensuring well adapted, good quality planting stock with the best economic return is a key component of sustainable forestry as promoted in the forest policy documents for Scotland, England and Wales.
Controlled pollination of Sitka spruce
This project aims to ensure a supply of good quality full-sibling families for use in the vegetative propagation industry.
Research objectives
- This work is carried out as part of the activities of Conifer Breeding Cooperative (CBC) of which Forest Research is a founding member.
- To secure the supply of control pollinated full-sibling seed for use by the vegetatively propagated (VP) Sitka spruce cuttings industry
Results so far
- Each spring female flowers on selected parents are isolated from background pollen
- Pollen from store of unrelated selected trees is applied to receptive isolated female flowers
- This work has been carried out by Forest Research since the late 1980s and is now a key function of the CBC
- Once the flowers are passed the stage of receptivity, protective tubes are removed allowing the come to develop naturally
- Cones are harvested in September each year before any seed are shed naturally and allowed to mature outside enclosed in muslin sacks
- Seed extraction takes place in December each year
- Seed are placed in store and then made available to the vegetative propagation industry
Status
Should a new full-sibling family be made available for the first time, its predicted genetic gains will be published on the CBC website.
Related Products/Services
Elsewhere Forest Research and CBC are involved with creating new clonal archives, promoting new seed orchards, and planting new clonal archives for future pollination work
Funders and partners
Funding is an equal partnership between Forest Research and CBC members from across the private forestry industry.
Forestry Commission policy
Ensuring well adapted, good quality planting stock with the best economic return is a key component of sustainable forestry as promoted in the forest policy documents for Scotland, England and Wales.
