Longleaf Pine Seeds and Seedlings: Summary SRS-4158 TAV Synthesis September 11, Atlanta

Topics defined ● Longleaf pine seeds Longleaf pine seedlings Longleaf pine plantation establishment

Longleaf Pine Seeds 1. Seed production OK for natural regeneration 1000 cones/acre/4-5 years 35 seeds/cone in average year 65 cones/year/tree (15-19” dbh) 15 cones/year/tree (10-13” dbh) 2. Artificial regeneration ??? good crop year: > 30 cones/tree (> 9” dbh) current planted LLP (0-10 year age): 630,000 acres 450 stocking, 95% germ, 4700 seeds/lb=63,500 pounds/10 years next 3 years: projected net increase 308,000 acres 31,000 pounds/3 years next 15 years: projected net increase 1.65 m acres 166,000 pounds/15 years or 11,000 pounds /year Seedling Nursery Production ???

Longleaf Pine Seeds ● Seed Production o Increase cone/seed production in seed orchards or seed production areas on National Forests o Monitor range-wide cone/seed production to better predict cone crops (10 locations/6 states for 50 years) o Seed production sporadic o Environmental and genetic effects on production o Shorten good seed crop cycle of 5-7 years ● Seed Biology o Lack of storage longevity and vigor o Screen for pitch canker disease resistance

Longleaf Pine Seeds ● Genetics and Physiology o Genetic improvement and provenance studies o Genetic traits: productivity, stem quality/branch knot size, wood quality, seed production, pine straw quality, and resistance to diseases (fusiform rust, pitch canker), pests, drought, wind storms, low nutrient levels, or herbicides o Possible linkage between disease resistance, growth, and fecundity o Genetic differences in seed sources across the range (Preliminary results: little diversity among mountain, piedmont, and coastal LLP) o Seed/planting zones in changing climate change o Montane or other sub-regional longleaf pine

Longleaf Pine Seedlings ● Seedling physiology, root system architecture, and health ● Bareroot Stock o Low survival in drought years o Wind firmness ● Container Stock o Refine technology on container types (hard vs. soft wall; slotted-side vents vs. chemical pruning; square vs. conical shape), cavity volume/length/diameter, and nursery protocols o Root system architecture o Sapling toppling and stem form

Longleaf Pine Seedlings ● Direct Seeding o Greater wind firmness o Seedling density hard to control o Shelterwood method ● Planting Guidelines o Planting depth of container stock on different soil and site types o Machine vs. hand planting affect on survival of container stock o Planting window and conditions for best survival and early growth of container stock

Plantation Establishment ● Site Preparation o Specific requirements for wet, mesic, xeric, and mountain areas o Old field, agriculture, cutover sites ● Stocking Density o Minimum stocking density to have enough trees (300/A by age 3); skip thinning at age 30; better for wildlife o Higher stocking density to produce better self- pruning trees o Stocking density affects wood quality, stand closure, and understory plant vigor o Stocking density that is sustainable with Rx burn or pine straw harvest

Plantation Establishment ● Accelerated Stem Growth/Bolting o Planting stock quality o Site preparation, post-plant brush control, and Rx burn after 1 or 2 years o Effects of genetics, environment (soil types, planting technique), and their interaction on growth and form o Under-planting of different stock types for stand conversion

Seeds and Seedlings 1.Information on longleaf cone/seed production and biology 2.Information on longleaf genetics and provenance tests across the range 3.Off-site planting in terms of seed sources 4.Basic and applied research on Montane longleaf 5.Information on high quality container stock 6.Seedling establishment protocols on different sites and soils across the range