This summary of forest tree improvement and forest genetics research projects in the southern pine region informs research workers and other interested people about work under way and where it is being done. The survey also strengthens and coordinates such research. The U. S. Forest Service is glad to foster the work of the Committee on Southern Forest Tree Improvement by publishing this report. T. F. McLINTOCK, DIRECTOR Southeastern Forest Experiment Station The Committee on Southern Forest Tree improvement has directed its Subcommittee on Tree Selection and Breeding to summarize the projects by agencies doing forest tree improvement research in the South and Southeast. This area corresponds roughly to what is known as the southern pine region. The project summaries and the consolidated report were to be patterned after those issued from the Lake States and from the Western states including British Columbia, Canada. The Southern and Southeastern report describes 305 research projects being conducted by 36 research agencies at various locations. The survey gives reasonably good coverage of present forest tree improvement research in the area. The report is presented for the consideration of those conducting or supporting forest tree improvement and forest genetics research, and for others interested in the broad forestry research program that is developing in the South and Southeast. Any survey of research in an active field of work is somewhat out of date by the time it is printed. However, studies that are costly and run for many years do not change quickly, and it is these that should not be dupli- cated. It is hoped that the survey of current work will help researchers to avoid such duplication. Often there is no sharp distinction between tree improvement or forest genetics studies and certain other fields of forestry. The only logical basis for classifying many studies is their basic purpose. For example, seed orchard culture is an important general subject of interest to many people. Yet indi- vidual studies are appropriately classified under basic subjects such as varia- tion and inheritance of flower production, flower induction, nutritional stud- ies, tree spacing studies, vegetative propagation, pollen flight, tree crown shaping, cone or seed insect control, cone or seed disease control, and others relating to growing trees or managing areas of trees for seed production. Classification of studies by the basic subject or subjects covered has made extensive cross referencing unnecessary. Each statement shows the scientific names of the tree species, or the group, such as hardwood or softwood. Occasionally the word “General” is used instead of the species name to indicate broad projects applying to many genera. Work under the Regional Project, “Forest Tree Genetics, S-23,” of the State Agricultural Experiment Stations is indicated for some studies under the college or university of the State involved. The following State experi- ment stations cooperate at present in this project: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina. No attempt has been made to report all seed orchards and seed pro- duction areas established by all agencies. This activity was the object of a special survey by the U. S. Forest Service, and acreage figures were published in Tree Planters’ Notes No. 74, December 1965. However, some agencies have included seed orchards in their survey reports because of the research aspects, or for other reasons. This report supersedes one published in 1952, “Directory of forest genetic activities in the South,” Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Station Paper No. 17. The Subcommittee on Tree Selection and Breeding gratefully acknow- ledges the assistance of research agencies and workers who generously gave their time in preparing the project statements, the men who assembled the report by States, and the Forest Genetics Research Foundation, which stimu- lated this work and set a pattern for the report. KEITH W. DORMAN, CHAIRMAN Subcommittee on Tree Selection and Breeding ii AGENCIES CONDUCTING RESEARCH Code Number of Number Name Projects Reported 1 Auburn University 8 2 Buckeye Cellulose Corporation 1 3 Clemson University 8 4 Continental Can Company 10 5 Florida Forest Service 3 6 Florida Forests Foundation 3 7 Ida Cason Callaway Foundation 2 8 International Paper Company 4 9 Louisiana State University 2 10 North Carolina State University 11 11 Tennessee Valley Authority 4 12 Texas Forest Service 10 13 Union Bag-Camp Paper Corporation 8 14 United States Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory 1 15 United States Forest Service, Region 8 1 United States Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 88 16 Asheville, North Carolina 11 17 Athens, Georgia 8 18 Blacksburg, Virginia 5 19 Charleston, South Carolina 10 20 Cordele, Georgia 3 21 Fort Myers, Florida 2 22 Franklin, Virginia 1 23 Macon, Georgia 14 24 Marianna, Florida 6 25 Olustee, Florida 28 United States Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station 98 26 Alexandria, Louisiana 7 27 Crossett, Arkansas 17 28 Gulfport, Mississippi 53 29 Harrison, Arkansas 4 30 Stoneville, Mississippi 17 31 University of Florida 6 32 University of Georgia 11 33 University of Tennessee 14 34 University of Virginia 1 35 Virginia Division of Forestry 1 36 West Virginia Pulp and Paper Corporation 10 Total 305 CONTENTS Page 1.. Agencies conducting research . 111 The pattern of the project descriptions . 1 Research projects . 1 A tabular summary . 77 A general summary . 83 Subject-matter classification . 84 Index to genera . 85 Index to research workers . 88 Index to cooperators . 89 iv Forest Tree Improvement Research in the South and Southeast A Survey by the Committee on Southern Forest Tree Improvement Keith W. Dorman, Principal Silvieulturist Southeastern Forest Experiment Station Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture THE PATTERN OF THE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS In the following pages, each person in charge and the second the project under that agency. of the work describes his current forest tree Following the title are classification numbers improvement research project in the South and showing the subject-matter category of the Southeast in a brief statement consisting of project. These categories are listed on page 84 the title, description of the objectives and meth- in accordance with a classification systems ods, a list of cooperators (if any), and the prepared by Dr. Scott S. Pauley. names of those responsible for the study. To insure that pertinent material is seen, the Each statement is preceded by a hyphenated reader should study the subject-matter classi- reference number for identification of the pro- fication outline before attempting to review ject in cross references and the indexes; the various topics. first number identifies the research agency, RESEARCH PROJECTS 1. AUBURN UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY Auburn, Alabama l-l. VARIATION IN Cupressus. 111.0, 111.1, OBJECT: Evaluate promising exotics as re- 111.3. Cupressus arizonica, Cupressus placements for currently grown species and SPP* establish these exotics as a source of breeding material. OBJECT : ( 1) Investigate phenotypic vari- ation in species of Cupressus native to the METHODS : Introduce trees not native to United States, and (2) determine genetic vari- the area. Establish in plots and evaluate in ation in Cupressus arizonica. terms of growth, form, wood quality, insect and disease resistance, and tolerance to cli- METHODS : Collect seed from and study mate. all species in their native habitats. Seed is kept separate by mother tree to establish one open- ASSIGNMENT : James F. Goggans, Asso- pollinated progeny test planting of approxi- ciate Professor. mately 10 acres. Provenance test plantings of all species will be established in different re- l-3. VARIABILITY WITHIN FOREST TREE SPE- gions of Alabama. CIES. 111.1, 111.2, 111.3, 211.1, 211.2, 211.3. Pinus taeda, P. virginiana, Li- ASSIGNMENT : James F. Goggans, Asso- quidambar styraciflua, and others to be ciate Professor. selected. l-2. TRIALS OF EXOTIC SPECIES. 111.0, 211.0. OBJECT : ( 1) Determine phenotypic va- Softwood and hardwoods. riation in selected characteristics within and 1 among races of major forest tree species in ASSIGNMENT : James F. Goggans, Asso Alabama and surrounding areas, and ( 2) de- ciate Professor. termine variation within and among progenies of races and selected individuals from Alabama l-5. HYBRIDIZATION. 112.01, 112.02. Pinu. and surrounding areas. SPP. METHODS : Select sample trees within OBJECT : Develop hybrid forest trees fol stands, sites, and physiographic regions. Meas- problem sites such as the dry, shallow-soilec ure growth, form, and wood characteristics. sites found in the southern Appalachians. Analyze to estimate phenotypic variation with- in stands, between stands, and between regions. METHOD : Cross within and between spe Collect seed from sample trees, selected as a- ties parent trees selected for improved wooc bove, and plant seedlings in designed plantings quality, insect and disease resistance, and abil, on varying sites. As part of these studies a ity to grow on the problem site involved. Pinus taeda provenance study was established ASSIGNMENT : James F. Goggans, Asso, 5 years ago. It involves eight seed sources in ciate Professor. Alabama with plantings near each source. Phe- notypic variation in growth and wood charac- teristics of Liquidambar styraciflua is also be- 1-6. D EVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED CYPRES: ing investigated. Eighty-five 5-tree plots have CI~RISTMAS TREES. 122.1. Cupressus ari, been established throughout Alabama. Wood zonica. characteristics being studied are percent heart- OBJECT : Develop an improved synthetic wood, specific gravity, and fiber length. variety of Cupressus arizonica for use as : ASSIGNMENT : James F. Goggans, Asso- Christmas tree. ciate Professor. METHODS : Collect seed from native habi tats in the southwestern U. S. and grow tree: 1-4. WOOD CELL ANATOMY. 111.3, 151.321, in various regions of Alabama. Select outstand, 151.322, 211.3, 251.321, 251.322, 251.324. ing trees from these plantings and transfer by Pinus taeda, Liquidambar styraciflua.