1. Coastal Douglas fir breeding in Denmark Jon K. Hansen

2. Importance of Douglas fir Introduction and use of Douglas fir since the 1860ies Approximately only 1% of the forest area in DK is Douglas fir Alternative to Norway spruce –Long term wind stability in older stands –Possibilities for natural regeneration –More drought resistant than Norway spruce and Sitka Spruce –Better growth and higher density compared to Norway spruce Major problems –Susceptible to frost (winter frost/drought late spring frost) –Poor wind stability in the first 30-40 years

4. Breeding mainly based on landraces Seed orchards –FP.210 (27 clones) –FP.228 (17 clones) –FP.229 (15 clones) –FP.228/FP.229 (18 clones) –FP.232 (Located in France with Danish material) 11 approved seed stands Many of the seed orchards and several approved seed stands tested in field trials or artificial freezing tests

5. Seed sources Danish landraces excl. seed orchards (unknown origin) –Generally better growth and survival than imports –Differences in winter frost resistance Danish seed orchards –Plus trees selected in Danish landraces with focus on stem straightness –Realised gains as regards stem straightness –But more moderate growth compared to original landraces –Differences in frost susceptibility A number of provenances mainly from Washington are used beside the Danish landraces

6. Breeding strategy Future Low economic importance (today) + Natural regeneration (diversity) + Grafting problems + poor genetic diversity in seed orchards + poor seed production in seed orchards  Seedling seed orchards –Two with 97 open pollinated families –Additional tests in Southern Sweden with same families material –One with 48 open pollinated families –Target traits: stem straightness, late bud burst, growth Clonal seed orchard based on plus tree selection in offspring from seed orchard of Danish landrace (Darrington origin)

8. European perspective 2. generation seedling seed orchards –Include families from EU-countries New seed orchard –Include plus trees/clones from other European countries