JACK PINE GENETIC GAIN TEST PLANATION Establishment Report

P.B. Chapman J.I. Klein

Canadian Forest Service Manitoba District Office

March 1996

PURPOSE OF TEST

A test plantation was established to measure and demonstrate levels of genetic gain achieved for south-east Manitoba through a jack pine tree improvement program initiated in 1967. Genetic gain is the increase in desirable features (such as stem volume, straightness and resistance to disease) that is obtained by growing material derived from selected parents or populations with traits inherently above the average of that generally used. Results will be used to validate estimates of genetic improvement produced during earlier phases of the program and may justify future decisions related to use of genetically improved stock and production of advanced generations. Data will be analyzed to quantitatively measure the gain realized by using improved stock as well as to demonstrate the size and quality improvement in side-by-side plots for field tours.

Operational deployment of improved jack pine in Manitoba may be by rooted cuttings in zones with planting forecasts too small to justify conventional seed orchards (Dojack 1991). A small test of rooted cuttings relative to conventional seedlings was established concurrently to assess the growth and form of vegetatively propagated jack pine.

MA TERIALS AND METHODS

Seedlots

Six seedlots are in the test, four which are improved. The four improved lots differ in genetic value but all are derived from material in the eastern breeding district family test plantations established in 1971 with 209 open pollinated families from the eastern breeding district, two control lots and 15 lots from the western breeding district (Klein 1982). These plantations have been periodically measured for characteristics such as height, diameter, stem quality, wood density and resistance to western gall rust (Endocronartium harknessii).

The four superior lots, described below, consist of superior tested families, mass selection seed orchard seed, superior source stand collections and control pollinated seed.

Superior tested families: ten of the original open pollinated seedlots from the establishment of the family test which had the highest score (based on stem volume, straightness and gall rust resistance) at the 15 year measurement (Klein 1992), and sufficient stored seed.

Mass selection seed orchard: seed collected from an interim seed orchard established in 1972 by planting seedlings from the original test families at close spacing and recurrently thinning based on subjective size and quality to retain the top 5% of the trees (Klein 1982).

Superior source stands: two areas in the Sandilands were identified as having superior genetic value by plotting progeny volume means from the 10 year measurement on source stand locations (Klein 1983). Open pollinated seed was collected from these stands. Separate lots

1

were maintained from the two areas and designated as north and south.

Control pollinated seed: 20 control pollinated full-sib progenies were created by pairing and mating 40 of the highest scoring within family trees in three of the test plantations. Scoring was based on height, diameter, stem quality, wood density and gall rust measured at 15 years (Klein, 1992).

The unimproved lots were selected from average test families and a nursery control lot.

Average tested families: a bulk seedlot made up of seed from ten of the original open pollinated test families having average scores at the 15 year measurement (Klein 1992).

Nursery control lot: made of a bulk collection representative of currently used unimproved seed obtained from Pineland tree nursery.

Each seedlot was assigned a numerical designator and unique colour code (table 1). Detailed breeding value information on seedlot parent trees is presented in the appendix. Geographic origin of numbered seedlots and individual parent tree locations within the family test plantations are described by Nanka (1989).

Table 1. Pin colours and seedlot number assignments for gain test seed lots.

-

seedlot 1 2 3 4 5 6 border

seed nursery average mass superIor supenor control supenor source control tested selection source tested pollinated source

lot families seed stands families seed stand orchard

pm blue orange green white yellow red unpainted colour

Site

The 3.5 ha site is located southwest of Hadashville, Manitoba in section 10, township 8, range lle (figure 1). The general location is 49° 40' north latitude and 96° west longitude in the Sandilands provincial forest at the western tip of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region.

The original stand was mixed with a heavy component of jack pine but also black spruce and aspen in increasing proportion towards the east side. The site is flat with drainage towards the north-east. This fresh site was selected at the end of several drought years since mortality of planted jack pine was evident on nearby rapidly drained cutovers.

2

w

Rgure 1. Location of gain test plantation.

£ Rre guard road

~rans Canada Highway

ED A"ovlnclal highway

Hadashville

l.oca11on of test site.

not to scale

Rgure 2. Jack pine genetic gain test layout.

N

~

1 Seed lot

5 Rot

Single tree plots -DRePl r ... , ....... .:. .•

Rep 2

Rep 3 6 I 3 4

Rep 4

R1I · 2 tiJ.J Cutting/seedling compan1son • . • ... • " •

? 2r sP 7r Distance (m)

Site Treatment

The site was clear cut in 1992. Site preparation was carried out in early March of 1993 using a D-7 Caterpillar tractor with shear blade. Due to deep, early snow, frost had not penetrated the soil, so the snow was removed from the site to allow soil freezing after which stump shearing continued. The prescription was to remove all slash and shear stumps as close to the ground as possible. There was no attempt to remove the duff layer as it was generally less than 3 cm in depth. The result was good accessibility for planting, ease of layout and planting, with retention of nutrients and minimal exposure of mineral soil. Occasional wide, shallow craters resulted where root systems ripped out rather than shearing. Slash piles were burned in the winter of 1993/94.

Design

The bulk of the planation consists of four replicated blocks, each containing square lOO-tree plots of each of the 6 seedlots. Rowand column spacing is 2.5 m and is very regular to facilitate positive identification of plot trees at future measurements. Most of the planting locations had suitable microsites, but in those cases where microsite was not suitable due to presence of a stump or stump hole the planting location was moved north along the row. Plot and block location is shown in figure 2. Orientation of the blocks was determined by the shape of the site. The assignment of seedlots to plots within blocks was randomized. Layout of individual trees within plots is in appendix 4.

20 rows of single tree plots were located at the north-west comer of the site, with location of each seedIot in the rows randomized (appendix 5).

The replicated 100 tree plots will be used to assess value production on an area basis, that is, m3/ha or $/ha. Measurement might exclude 1 or 2 exterior rows, leaving a net plot of 64 or 36 trees. These plots do not need to be measured until the trees reach merchantable size. Analysis will be on a plot basis, m3/plot.

The single tree plots will be used to obtain an early indication of genetic differences between lots on an individual tree basis. Results from analysis of this part of the test will be of greatest interest 5-20 years after planting. Measurements might be height, diameter, stem quality, pest attacks. Analysis will be on a single-tree basis, using or ignoring replications (depending on the size of replication effects).

Establishment

The seedlots were grown in Styroblock 45 containers at the Pineland Forest Nursery at Hadashville Manitoba by nursery staff. The crop was reared in the tree improvement

4

greenhouse under high pressure sodium lights.

All plot trees were planted in June of 1993. Containerized seedlings were watered at the nursery each morning and were transported in a covered vehicle several times daily. While most trees were transported in the original containers they were grown in, seedlots four and six were assembled into block lots containing equal numbers of the source seed lots and placed into waxed cardboard cartons at the nursery. Seedlings were planted the day they were brought out. Each block was completely planted by a three person crew before the next was started.

Seedlings were planted with narrow bladed shovels by excavating a 15 cm diameter hole the same depth as the plug. The plug was centred in the hole and backfilled with the removed soil preserving the existing soil horizons as much as possible. The soil was fIrmed by hand when the hole was half filled and again when full. The plug was capped with a thin layer of sand and the planting spot was covered with what litter had been there previously to reduce soil drying.

A double row of border trees (composed of extra trees from the superior stand collection) was planted around the outside of edge of the test. All plot trees are marked with a wire pigtail pin painted with colour specifIc to each seedlot.

Rooted Cuttings

A small quantity of rooted cuttings produced at the Pineland Forest Nursery was available for testing. The cuttings were produced on a variant of the Bouturatheque method (Vallee and Noreau 1990). Cuttings were rooted in an enclosure made up of two Rubbermaid clear plastic storage boxes, one inverted to form a lid and hinged with duct tape on the back. The 5-6 cm cuttings were from partly lignifIed seedlings of the current crop. Cuttings were dipped in 4% IBA (Stirn Root) powder and immediately stuck in 170 ml Spencer Lemaire containers fIlled with a 50:50 peat :vermiculite medium that had been heat sterilized. Rooting took place in a cellar room with wooden shelving under the following conditions. 25-27 c temperature, 90-95% relative humidity maintained by misting, 2500-3000 lux lighting produced by daylight florescent tubes. Cuttings received weekly foliar feedings of 10-52-10 fertilizer and fungicide spray.

This material was rooted during the spring of 1992, hardened off outside that summer and overwintered outside. At the time of establishment there were 15 rooted cuttings available transferred to 4 inch pots. They were planted in a side-by-side comparison with seedlings from the southern superior seed collection area for the purpose of determining if they were capable of surviving and growing in the fIeld (appendix 6). Cuttings were marked with white pins and the seedlings with red pins. A direct comparison of growth characteristics is inappropriate since, by necessity, a completely different growth regime is required for them. Many of the cuttings had not developed a dominant leader but were making good growth from sprawling side shoots, while some had a definite leader. The plots will be used to

5

compare the growth forms resulting from the rooting process with that of conventional seedlings

Early measurements

Height was recorded for all trees at the end of the growing seasons in 1993 and 1995. Additional notes were made to record conditions such as forks or multiple leaders, post planting damage and unfavourable microsite. The rooted cuttings had short descriptions of tree form recorded as well as height and were measured at the end of the growing season in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Subsequent treatments

Weed control is required to allow the seedlings to express their full potential on the site. Motor manual control work has been done in the ftrst three seasons of growth and chemical control will be required to suppress woody competition. Willow, hazel and alder are the main woody competitors with lesser amounts of aspen and balsam poplar. The test trees have been generally exposed to high light levels, however the potential competition for nutrients and water is high.

Replacement of light mortality took place in the spring of 1994.

Early results

At time of planting the rooted cuttings had a distinctive form, several sprawling, unbranched side shoots arising close to the root collar and a relatively short leader. In contrast the seedlings had conventional dominant leaders with 1-3 side branches arising from a whorl above the root collar. By the end of the second field season rooted cuttings had generally developed along the same lines as the seedlings. Rate of height increment was comparable for both years following establishment (table 2).

Table 2. Mean height of seedlings and rooted cuttings (mm) at end of growing season.

year of measurement 1993 1994 1995

cuttings 216 mm 448 mm 792 mm

seedlings 423 mm 666 mm 965 mm

6

Appendix 1. Family seedlots used in gain test plantation with average scores at 15 years. (Seedlot two).

Code Family Rank at Rank at Breeding values l at 20 year measurement number accesslOn 15 years 20 years

number (of 216) (of 197)

144 1203 95 135 -34 -3.2 0.6 0.7 0.2

263 1078 98 139 -3 -4.6 -0.1 -0.4 1.4

514 1026 100 88 3 0.3 0.00.1 -0.1

161 1154 104 69 11 3.7 -0.3 0.1 -0.3

665 1194 105 71 18 4.2 -0.5 -0.1 -0.4

416 1030 106 157 -7 1.3 0.4 -0.3 -0.2

143 1109 107 147 -23 -0.6 0.0 0.4 0.8

411 1066 111 105 -4 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.5

234 1112 116 165 -17 -0.8 -0.2 0.2 0.0

651 1147 121 99 -5 2.7 -0.2 0.4 -0.1 breedrng value calculated rom age LU measurements, devIatIOn trom mean tor heIght, diameter, stem quality.

western gall rust resistance and wood density (Klein 1996).

7

Appendix 2. Ten families used with highest scores based on 15 year measurement. (Seediot 5)

Code Family Rank at Rank at Breeding valuesl at 20 year measurement number acceSSIOn 15 years 20 years

number (of 216) (of 197)

442 1192 1 2 34 3.9 0.3 0.5 0.5

656 1143 3 9 33 4.8 0.3 -1.1 0.1

311 1036 6 14 24 6.9 0.0 0.0 -0.8

136 1180 7 13 12 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.5

465 1181 9 103 -2 0.9 0.2 -0.6 0.3

253 1191 11 18 19 3.1 0.1 0.3 -0.5

341 1131 12 64 -6 -0.5 0.6 0.4 -0.4

126 1025 13 21 19 3.9 0.00.2 -0.1

414 1035 14 28 4 1.4 0.4 0.6 -0.3

214 1197 15 30 14 3.1 0.2 0.0 -0.3

1 breeding value calculated from age 20 measurements. deviation from mean for height, diameter, stem quality, western gall rust resistance and wood density (Klein 19(6).

Appendix 3. Parents of control pollinated families (seedlot six).

Seed parent Pollen parent

familyl tree2 20 year breeding family tree 20 year breeding value3 value

464 (1014) 3-1 2 23 4.4 0.4 0.3 -0.3 253 (1191) 1-3 3 376.60.1 0.4 -1.5

551 (1170) 1-1 3 50 11.1 0.2 0.8 -1.3 144 (1203) 3-1 2 -31 -1.8 0.8 0.9 0.0

341 (1131) 1-3 1 -1 3.5 0.4 0.6 -1.3 212 (1091) 3-3 3 8 1.5 -OJ 0.9 0.5

414 (1035) 1-3 3 4 3.l OJ 0.9 0.0 463 (1155) 1-2 3 not scored at age 20

144 (1203) 3-1 2 -31 -1.8 0.8 0.9 0.0 551 (1170) 1-1 3 50 ILl 0.2 0.8 -1.3

311 (1036) 1-1 2 33 8.9 OJ 0.4 -1.0 126 (1025) 3-1 2 15 4.0 OJ 0.6 -0.2

364 (1038) 1-1 4 47 6.7 -OJ 0.2 -0.9 156 (138) l-l -+ 40 4.9 OJ 0.7 -0.7

441 (1051) 3-1 3 34 4.1 0.0 OJ -0.5 626 (1018) 1-24 13 4.0 0.7 0.8 -0.5

8

622 (1160) 2-1 1 24 7.8 OJ 0.8 -0.6 443 (1056) 2-3 1 51 1.2 -1.1 0.6 0.7

565 (1184) 1-34 22 8.3 0.4 -1.8 -1.1 444 (1028) 3-14 4.7 3.6 -0.6 0.3 0.4

253 (1191) 1-3 3 37 6.6 O.l 0.4 -1.5 464 (1014) 3-1 2 23 4.4 0.4 OJ -0.3

656 (143) 1-24 53 9.1 0.8 -0.5 -0.4 423 (1207) 1-24 807.9 -1.00.80.4

423 (1207) 1-24 807.9 -1.00.80.4 656 (1143) 1-24 53 9.1 0.8 -0.5 -0.4

433 (1135) 1-22 20 3.9 -0.6 0.8 0.4 363 (1010) 2-3 4 59 8.0 0.8 0.7 -0.7

443 (1056) 2-3 1 51 1.2 -1.1 0.60.7 622 (1160) 2-1 1 24 7.8 OJ 0.8 -0.6

442 (1192) 3-3 2 47 5.1 -0.5 0.7 1.0 613(1171) 3-2 1 45 10.4 0.0 0.7 -OJ

363 (1010) 2-3 4 59 8.00.8 0.7 -0.7 433 (1135) 1-22 20 3.9 -0.6 0.8 0.4

525 (097) 3-2 4 8 1.6 0.2 1.1 0.2 214 (1197) 1-1 4 22 6J 0.2 0.2 -1.5

156 (1138) 1-1 4 40 4.90.3 0.7 -0.7 364 (1038) 1-1 4 47 6.7 -OJ 0.2 -0.9

555 (195) 1-3 3 36 9J 0.1 0.4 -0.9 535 (l057) 1-24 11 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.8

1 three digit family code is used to identify family of origin in the test plantations. four digit accession number identify the original seedloLs in storage. 2 the first two digits identify the replicate in the family test plantation. the third digit identifies the position in the four-tree plot. 3 breeding value calculated from age 20 measurements. deviation from mean for height. diameter. stem quality. western gall rust resistance and wood density (Klein 1996).

9

Appendix 4. Layout of trees within 100 tree blocks. Rows run south to north.

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

99 89 79 69 59 49 39 29 19 9

98 88 78 68 58 48 38 28 18 8

97 87 77 67 57 47 37 27 17 7

96 86 76 66 56 46 36 26 16 6

95 85 75 65 55 45 35 25 15 5

94 84 74 64 54 44 34 24 14 4

93 83 73 63 53 43 33 23 13 3

92 82 72 62 52 42 32 22 12 2

91 81 71 61 51 41 31 21 11 1

10

Appendix 5. Layout of seedlots within the single tree plots. Trees run east to west within plots while the plots themselves run south to north.

w plot s + n

e

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1 1 5 3 4 5 6 3 4 2 5 5 6 4 1 2 5 5 1

4 5 3 5 6 2 4 4 3 3 4 6 4 3 5 I 2 4 6

6 3 4 2 1 4 1 1 2 5 2 1 2 2 6 4 4 2 2

3 6 2 6 3 6 3 5 6 4 1 2 . 5 6 4 6 1 1 3

2 2 1 I 2 3 2 2 5 1 6 3 3 5 3 3 6 6 5

5 4 6 4 5 1 5 6 1 6 3 4 1 1 2 5 3 3 4

11

20

6

4

2

1

3

5

Appendix 6. Layout of seedling/cutting comparison.

columns

rows 1 2 3 4 5

1 1 132 s s 16 s

2 2 s 10 s 17

3 s 12 s 7 s

4 4 s 1 s 6

5 s 3 s 18 5

6 5 s 8 s 15

1 S denotes seedling 2 rooted cutting, number assigned at nursery. All cuttings originated from terminal shoot of seedling except 15-18 originated from lateral shoots.

Literature Cited

Klein, J.I. 1982. Establishment and first results of a jack pine breeding program for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Environ. Can., Can. For. Serv., North. For. Res. Cent. Edmonton, Alberta. Inf. Rep. NOR-X-247.

Klein, lI. 1983. Selection for eastern Manitoba jack pine seed orchards based on 10-year family test results. Environ. Can., Can. For. Serv., North For. Res. Cent. Edmonton, Alberta. For. Manage. Note. 25.

Klein, J.I. 1992. Selection and mating of family test trees to produce seed orchard progenies for Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Forestry Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada-Manitoba Partnership Agreement in Forestry.

Klein, lI. 1996 Multiple-trait Combined Selection in Jack Pine Family-test Plantations Using Best Linear Prediction. Silvae Genet. (in press.)

Nanka, A.M. 1989. Guide to jack pine family test plantations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

12

Forestry Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Study NOR 1203 File Rep. No.1.

Vallee, G. and R. Noreau. 1990. La Bouturatheque: systeme de bouturage compact hors serre. Gouvemement du Quebec. Ministere de l'Energie et des Ressources (Forets). Direction de la recherche. Sainte-Foy, Quebec. Note de recherche forestiere no. 41.

13