Genetics the way forward for high quality timber' The important role of selection and breeding Steve

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Genetics - the way forward for high quality
timber.The important role of selection and
breedingSteve Lee Forest Research(An agency
of the Forestry Commission)
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Our Objective Maximise value by satisfying the
construction timber market
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Tree breeding Like crop breeding but different

• Time scales are longer
• Trees live longer so the testing takes longer
• Generation turnover is 25 to 30 years!
• Our opinion of the ideal tree can change with
  time!
• We learn new techniques from the crop and animal
  breeders.
• Trees are less domesticated we have more
  diversity to work with.

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Breeding of forest trees started around 50 years
ago

• One of the first tree breeding programmes in the
  world
• Selecting and improving Scots pine, Corsican
  pine, Douglas fir, Hybrid larch and Sitka spruce
• Broadleaf programme just 10-years old
• By far the greatest progress has been with Sitka
  spruce

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Superior trees selected in the forest for

• Mainly growth rate
• But trees had to be straight more saw logs from
  straight trees
• With a small number of fine branches
• Wood density - dropped after a while
• Spiral grain also dropped after a while

. Taller, Straighter, Stronger
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Genetic value of selected trees is evaluated in
field trials. Trees are further screened for
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. and wood density.
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The difficult relationship between growth rate
and wood density
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What has been achieved?

• We are predicting 25 more volume at felling
• Up to 40 more top-quality sawlogs at felling
• Either no, or just a small fall in wood density
• 80 of Sitka planted in GB is now improved
• New stock now available which will further add to
  improvements of quality and uniformity.
• The most advanced Sitka spruce breeding programme
  in the world

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Finally, we have a sawmill study

• Results are exciting
• More volume
• More sawlogs
• No drop in timber quality
• Big increase in value
• Importance of MfA
• Suggests breeders have more flexibility than
  previously thought.

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Comparing the sample trees big enough to give
sawlogs from each treatment
Extrapolating results to the whole treatment
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New tools are coming along to help tree breeders.

• We need to speed things up
• We need to reduce costs
• We need to be sure we are providing people with
  what they need timber fit for purpose.
• We already use the Pilodyn to assess wood density
• We can now use acoustic tools to measure MfA

PhD at Aberdeen Uni to investigate the
relationship between acoustic measure and actual
MfA
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Bio-technology is pushing things forward

• DNA markers to help reduce generation turnover
• Selection could be in the lab a scientist does
  in a few days what a traditional breeder took 10
  to 15 years to do.

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We are investigating the scope for clonal forestry

• No genetic variation
• Tree to tree differences are due to the site
• Big improvement in uniformity
• Scope for selecting species varieties for
  specific sites.

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Breeding is important in determining the timber
quality of the final crop.

• Foresters can influence quality through
  management practices such
• Number of trees, when to thin when to fell, when
  to weed etc.
• But for a given management regime, choice of
  planting stock gives scope for further improving
  the quality and quantity of the final crop.

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Genetics has already had an impact on the
expected future returns.

• Further improvements can be made to increase the
  proportion of quality saw logs (C24) for
  construction.
• We need to know more about the important traits
  for selection - this information is now coming
  forward
• We need a means of quick delivery to the field .

Thanks for listening