Michigan Technological University Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports 2021 DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPAGATION PROGRAM FOR BEECH BARK DISEASE-RESISTANT AMERICAN BEECH (FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA) AND AN APPLIED RESTORATION PLAN FOR MITIGATION OF BEECH BARK DISEASE Ande Myers Michigan Technological University, [email protected] Copyright 2021 Ande Myers Recommended Citation Myers, Ande, "DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPAGATION PROGRAM FOR BEECH BARK DISEASE-RESISTANT AMERICAN BEECH (FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA) AND AN APPLIED RESTORATION PLAN FOR MITIGATION OF BEECH BARK DISEASE", Open Access Dissertation, Michigan Technological University, 2021. https://doi.org/10.37099/mtu.dc.etdr/1170 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr Part of the Forest Management Commons DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPAGATION PROGRAM FOR BEECH BARK DISEASE- RESISTANT AMERICAN BEECH (FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA) AND AN APPLIED RESTORATION PLAN FOR MITIGATION OF BEECH BARK DISEASE By Andrea L. Myers A DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In Forest Science MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY 2021 © 2021 Andrea L. Myers This dissertation has been approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Forest Science. College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Dissertation Advisor: Tara L. Bal Committee Member: Yvette L. Dickinson Committee Member: Andrew J. Storer Committee Member: Angie Carter College Dean: Andrew J. Storer Once again, dedicated to Mitch Grogg. Through your stalwart support, you make everything herein possible. Table of Contents List of figures .................................................................................................................... vii List of tables .......................................................................................................................xv Preface.............................................................................................................................. xvi Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ xviii List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................ xix Abstract ..............................................................................................................................xx 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................1 1.2 Beech Bark Disease and Impacts on an Ecologically Important Species ........1 1.3 Propagation Considerations of Resistant American Beech for Use in Restoration ..................................................................................................................5 1.4 Overall Objectives ............................................................................................6 1.5 Literature Cited .................................................................................................7 2 Recent Advances in Propagation of American Beech and their Application in Mitigation of Beech Bark Disease .....................................................................................14 2.1 Abstract ..........................................................................................................14 2.2 Key words .......................................................................................................14 2.3 Introduction ....................................................................................................14 2.3.1 American Beech Ecology and Natural Reproduction .......................16 2.3.2 Beech Bark Disease Ecology ............................................................19 2.3.3 Direct Control of BBD ......................................................................21 2.4 Natural Vegetative Propagation of BBD-Resistance .....................................23 2.5 Artificial Vegetative Propagation of BBD-Resistant American Beech .........25 2.5.1 Micropropagation ..............................................................................26 2.5.2 Grafting .............................................................................................27 2.6 Applications in Restoration ............................................................................31 2.7 Recommendations ..........................................................................................37 2.8 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................42 2.9 Funding Sources .............................................................................................42 2.10 Literature Cited ...............................................................................................42 iv 3 Beech Bark Disease in Northern Michigan after 20 years and Site Selection for a Resistant Tree Restoration Plan .........................................................................................57 3.1 Abstract ..........................................................................................................57 3.2 Key words .......................................................................................................57 3.3 Implications ....................................................................................................57 3.4 Introduction ....................................................................................................58 3.4.1 Disease Phase Evaluation .................................................................58 3.4.2 Site Selection for Restoration ...........................................................59 3.5 Methods ..........................................................................................................60 3.5.1 Composition Surveys and Disease Description ................................60 3.5.2 Planting Site Selection ......................................................................63 3.6 Results ............................................................................................................63 3.6.1 Composition Surveys and Disease Description ................................63 3.6.2 Planting Site Selection ......................................................................64 3.7 Discussion ......................................................................................................68 3.7.1 Composition Surveys and Disease Description ................................68 3.7.2 Planting Site Selection ......................................................................69 3.8 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................72 3.9 Literature Cited ...............................................................................................72 4 Protocols and Refinement of a Grafting Program for the Propagation of BBD- Resistant American Beech .................................................................................................82 4.1 Abstract ..........................................................................................................82 4.2 Introduction ....................................................................................................82 4.3 Methods ..........................................................................................................84 4.3.1 Identification and Testing of Resistant Trees ...................................84 4.3.2 Propagation .......................................................................................88 4.3.2.1 Sourcing Materials ..........................................................88 4.3.2.2 Grafting ...........................................................................89 4.3.2.3 Beech Maintenance .........................................................94 4.3.2.4 Refinement of Methods...................................................95 4.4 Results ............................................................................................................95 4.4.1 Resistant Trees ..................................................................................95 4.4.2 Propagation .......................................................................................98 4.4.3 Refinement of Methods...................................................................100 4.5 Discussion ....................................................................................................101 4.5.1 Resistant Trees ................................................................................101 4.5.2 Propagation .....................................................................................102 4.5.3 Refinement of Methods...................................................................103 v 4.6 Conclusions ..................................................................................................103 4.7 Resources ......................................................................................................104 5 A Pilot Study in Transplanting Methods for Wildling American beech (Fagus grandifolia) ......................................................................................................................107 5.1 Abstract ........................................................................................................107 5.2 Study Implications ........................................................................................107