Species Choice, A Nursery Perspective ConFor Regional Group Meeting Huntly, 5th March 2014
Christie-Elite Nurseries, Forres, Moray, Scotland, IV36 3TW Tel: 01309 672 633 [email protected] www.christie-elite.co.uk Company Overview Introduction
75ha Nursery site in Forres, North-East Scotland
One of the top 5 UK growers of forest tree species
Specialise in Scottish native woodland and commercial forest trees
Annual sales of c8M trees, employing between 25-65 staff
The only UK grower producing both bare-root & containerised stock
Members of the ConFor Nursery Producers Group Topic: Species Choice and Nursery Perspective Chalara fraxinaea – Fraxinus sp. NoWhat Control do we replace it with ? Fraxinus sp. – Chalara fraxinea Is there any future for this ? Larix sp. – Phytopthora ramorum Is this still commercial ? Pinus sp. – Dothistroma Should we rely solely on this ? Picea sitchensis ‘Super-Elite’
Enquiries for 4,500,000 Sitka turned away since Dec 2013 ! Should we sow more?, where from ? Juniperus – P. austraucedrae April/May 2013 July/August 2013 <475K Plants Lost October 2013
Q: How to manage uncertainty ? A: Diversity. Alternative Species sown 2013, Invererne What ‘alternative’ species are Christie-Elite growing ? Sequoia sempervirens ‘Alternative’ Conifers
Tsuga & Thuja Sequoiadhendron giganteum Sequoia sempervirens Abies amabilis Abies grandis, Abies alba Picea omorika Cryptomeria japonica Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libani
Abies bornmulleriana
Picea orientalis Pinus peuce, Pinus strobus Cryptomeria japonica Cryptomeria japonica Akita, Japan Who is buying alternative species and how are they being used ?
What about ‘alternative’ broadleaves ? Eucalyptus glaucescens ‘Alternative’ Broadleaves
Populus tremula x tremuloides
Acer pseudotplatanus
Alnus incana, Alnus rubra
Sorbus intermedia, Sorbus aria
Sorbus torminalis
Quercus rubra, Quercus sp.
Eucalyptus sp.
Populus tremula (native)
Microprop - Poplar Can mode of propagation offer anything ? – future for ash ?
Plant 1000 individuals. Expose to disease
At 99% mortality 10 survive. Analyse the survivors to identify common traits
Establish whether the traits are heritable
Micro-prop, tissue culture, veg-prop – viable ?
Use existing seed orchard resource* - Test to find which clones carry the traits
Remove those that don’t Allow pollination between remaining clones
Collect seed and sow in the nursery.
50% of progeny resistant ? viable ?
What are viable (commercial) seed sources for existing species ? Seed sources
Three types of seed ‘source’ are generally obtainable
Source identified – location only, origins generally unknown, no specific qualities. May be from a ‘registered stand’.
Selected Stand –stands selected (unimproved) for superior growth characteristics
Seed Orchard Qualified & Tested – selections of superior individuals or stands that have been judged or tested and shown to be superior. Selected Stand – Broadleaves
From National Register Selected Stands (SE) in Scotland, private sector
2 stands Betula pendula – Scotland 201/202 4 stands Fagus sylvatica – Scotland 20 1 stand Quercus petraea – Scotland 20 3 stands Quercus robur – Scotland 20
Not a great deal of choice, particularly in poor seed years.
Seed sources for ‘alternative’ species ? Alternative conifers – sources available
Tsuga & Thuja – Pacific NW, Washington, Montana. UK Selected ?
Sequoiadhendron & Sequoia sempervirens – USA (difficult to supply)
Picea omorika – Germany (various other EU ?)
Abies grandis – Coastal Vancouver, British Columbia
Cryptomeria japonica –Akita prefecture, Northern Japan (Improved) or China
Cedrus atlantica (No seed) Cedrus libani (Turkey, Mersin-Aslankoy close to Syria)
Abies bornmulleriana - Turkey (alternative to nordmanniana, Gerogia)
Abies alba – 401 West slopes of Massif Central (Limoges) 400-800m oceanic or 101 Normandy, more northerly but at sea level. Northern Germany. Also potential sources in France, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Southern Italy and Northern Serbia What about UK seed orchards ? Seed Orchards
Offer the best potential for future resilience Genetically more diverse than seed stands (assuming panmixis)
Provide a gene bank of tested clones
Desirable traits can be actively selected for. Significant, on-going commercial investment (<10 years)
With the exception a few species little or no seed is currently available from UK orchards Seed Orchards - Conifers
Picea sitchensis – ORTE & PF. FC and Private – range of gains and traits – available & more coming online *
Pinus sylvestris – ORTE. FC orchard A70, others non-productive – available
Larix x eurolepis – FC & Private, non-productive – not available
Reliable, commercial orchards available in Europe a number of conifers e.g. Picea abies, Larix, Pseudotsuga and some ‘alternative’ species
*UK SS Breeding (National) Programme led by Forest Research Seed Orchards UK - Broadleaves
Prunus avium – England – Canker resistance and form - available Betula pendula – N. England/S. Scotland – Vigor (10-15%) – expected 2015-2016 Acer pseudoplatanus – Eng/Scot/Wales – Form – grafts p2012 (expected 2016) Fraxinus excelsior – Scottish and English selections - redundant Acer platanoides – unknown – resistance to Verticillium Wilt – available, limited Juglans nigra – Forestry traits – expected 2016-2017 Quercus sp. – various traits (both species) – expected 2023 onwards Crataegus monogyna - available Sorbus torminalis – planning stage
Clones used for orchard production (e.g. birch (FR) and walnut (EM)) have been ‘rescued’ from academic research programmes or taken from un-tested plus trees. What ‘alternatives’ can nurseries offer ?
2013/2014 – Finished stock likely to be imported. Trial volumes home-grown, only certain species
2014-2016 Widening spectrum of ‘alternatives’ source identified, selected & improved . Limited volumes
2016-2020 onwards – Larger choice of ‘alternatives’ plus a greater range of seed orchard stock as existing orchards come online
2020+ Wider range of seed orchard material assuming breeding programmes are established and orchards are expanded…..NOW
“Best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now” - Chinese Proverb Wish List:
• UK Tree Breeding Programme – Funded, co-ordinated Scientific Research • Co-ordinated Inventory - Inspect existing resource explore potential for select stands and identify plus trees • Develop better incentives for owners to improve stands for seed production and/or support creation/expansion of orchards • Funding to manage and develop existing selected stands
• Realistic approach to provenance – species/site compatibility • Be more selective and demanding for existing species • Be aware of availability, plan ahead and talk to your nursery
Thank You.
Matt Hommel MSc MICFor [email protected] www.christie-elite.co.uk
2007-2013 Sales Volume, Key Species
Hardwoods – All Products
Softwoods – All Products