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

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

Genetic Gains in Loblolly Pine Ht (ft) @ 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)

Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Side by side trials Case I

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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 $224.53 in extra wood or wood value Varietal 350 450 ($157.50/ac) - $112.12 $361.60 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)

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

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)

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

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