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Virginia Pine Progeny Test Series

Objective

The objectives of this Virginia pine progeny series are to:

• evaluate the differences in market value between open-pollinated Virginia pine families grown as Christmas trees,
• provide North Carolina growers with recommendations concerning the most appropriate families to plant of those commercially available and
• select the best performing individuals from the best families for the establishment of an improved seed orchard and further generations of genetic improvement.

Methods

Seeds of open-pollinated families of Virginia pine were obtained from six organizations (Table 1). This material represents 1^st and 2^nd generation trees largely selected for forest production.

Greenhouse-grown seedlings of this material have been planted at four field sites (Figure 1) and will be managed as Christmas trees for at least four years. Field management will include tip-moth control and shearing. The study at each site is a completely randomized block design with single-tree noncontiguous plots except for a demonstration block that contains five tree row-plots (Table 2). A single site contains about 4,950 study trees and 350 border trees and at a 6 ft. x 10 ft. spacing will occupy about 7.3 acres. Field tests were established in November 1997, December 1887 and January 1998. Height and tip month infestation will be assessed every year for the four year study period. In the final year, USDA Christmas tree grades will also be assessed.

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