Genetic improvement of interior Douglas-fir in the B.C. Interior: Progeny tests for East Kootenay seed planning zone

Project number: EP 976.02.08

Districts: Rocky Mountain and Selkirk Forest Districts

Objectives

• To evaluate the growth and adaptability of local and non-local Douglas-fir families in the East Kootenay seed planning zone
• To identify genetically superior parents for first-phase seed orchards
• To estimate components of genetic variance/covariance, heritabilities and genetic gain for traits relating to tree growth, form, adaptability and wood properties

Experimental design

Genetic entries included in test (256 in total)

Zone	Number of wind-pollinated families
East Kootenay	198
West Kootenay High (>1000 m)	10
West Kootenay Low (<1000 m)	10
Mt. Robson	12
Shuswap Adams	11
Mica	10
Controls	5 local operational EK seedlots

Layout

• Randomized complete-block design with eight replicate blocks
• The 256 genetic entries were randomly subdivided into 8 sets of 32 entries
• Sets were randomly assigned to positions in blocks
• Genetic entries were randomly assigned to four-tree row plots within sets
• Sampling units are individual trees spaced at 2 x 2 m. White stakes identify set corners

History

• 1992 plantations established
• 1994 manual brushing, third-year tree height and condition recorded
• 1997 manual brushing, sixth-year tree height and condition recorded, data analysis in progress
• 2001 tenth year height assessments

Publications

Jaquish, B. C. and V.J. Ashley. 1996. Interior Douglas-fir progeny test results and recommendations for first-phase 1.5 generation seed orchards. Progress Report EP 976. B.C. Min. For., Research Branch, Victoria, B.C. 75pp.

Comments

The Colepitts Creek installation also includes a research planting of coastal x interior Douglas-fir hybrids, and a demonstration planting of ponderosa pine, yellow cypress from coastal BC and genetically improved European birch from Finland. All of these exotics were performing extremely well after three growing seasons.