Geographic variation and provenance X site interaction with all-range provenance samples of lodgepole pine

Project number: EP 657.06

Districts: Rocky Mountain and Selkirk Forest Districts

Objectives

• To locate populations of lodgepole pine with outstanding traits
• To evaluate genotypic stability of provenances under a variety of field conditions; hence, to develop seed transfer rules
• To define variation patterns within and between provenances to provide genetic information for seed transfer guidelines and tree improvement

Experimental design

Field tests are located to enable sampling effects of environmental gradients on lodgepole pine provenances. This makes it possible to describe environmental variation as a response surface derived from the performance of provenances growing at all test sites.

Layout

Trials are located in 12 regions loosely defined in terms of latitude on a geo-climatic zone. There are five test sites within each region. Sets of 50 provenances are tested in each region, in addition to 10 standard provenances common to all sites in all regions. Each test site has two blocks (replications). Three of the regions containing 13 of the test sites are located in the Kootenay-Boundary Forest Region.

Each test site comprises two blocks of 60 plots. Each plot contains 9 trees in a 3-tree by 3-tree. square creating a plot 24 ft. x 24 ft. Not all blocks are rectangles. Tree positions are marked with numbered tags. The centre tree (#1) is marked with an addressograph label to identify the provenance and block. The addressographs were originally on 2x2 cedar posts, but some have now moved to the trees.

History

• 1974 (May) - planting
• 1974 - first year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1976 - third year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1979 - sixth year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1983 - 10th year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1988 - 15th year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1993 - 20th year growth, survival and winter injury assessment
• 1994 - pest assessment for western gall rust, needle cast and terminal bud weevil
• 1998 - plantation maintenance and District communication

Publications

Hunt, R.S., C.C. Ying and D. Ashbee. 1987. Variation in damage among P. contorta provenances caused by the needle cast fungus Lophodermella concolor. Can. J. For. Res. 17:594-597.

Ying, C.C and R.S. Hunt. 1987. Stability of resistance among Pinus contorta provenances to Lophodermella concolor needle cast. Can. J. For. Res. 17:1596-1601.

Lindgren, D., C.C. Ying, E. Björn and K. Lindgren. 1994. Site index variation with latitude and altitude in IUFRO Pinus contorta provenance experiments in western Canada and northern Sweden. Scand. J. For. Res. 9:270-274.

Ying, C.C. 1995. Long-term provenance tests as source information for gene conservation of forest species. Proceedings: National Workshop on Gene Conservation Strategy. Nov. 15-19, 1993, Toronto, Ontario

Wu, H.X., C.C. Ying and J.A. Muir. 1996. Effect of geographic variation and jack pine introgression on disease and insect resistance in lodgepole pine. Can. J. For. Res. 26: 711-726.

Wu, H.X. and C.C. Ying. 1997. Genetic parameters and selection efficiencies in resistance to western gall rust, stalactiform blister rust, needle cast, and Sequoia pitch moth in lodgepole pine. For. Sci. 43(4):571-581.

Wu, H.X. and C.C. Ying. 1998. Stability of resistance to western gall rust and needle cast in lodgepole pine provenances. Can. J. For. Res.:28: 439-449.

Rehfeldt G.E., C.C. Ying, D.L. Spittlehouse, and D.A. Hamilton. 1999. Genetic responses to climate in Pinus contorta: niche breadth, climate change, and reforestation. Ecol. Monogr. 69: 375-407.

Rehfeldt, G.E. 2000. Genes Climate and Wood. Leslie L. Schaffer Lectureship in Forest Science, U.B.C. Vancouver, B.C. February 2, 2000.