From plus trees to seed orchards

Background and Objective

After the dry summers of 2018 to 2020, German forestry is facing changes in tree species composition. In
particular, the proportion of Norway spruce is reduced, which means that the supply of coniferous logs from
German forests will decrease in the future. The availability of softwood is of particular importance for the
long-term use of wood products to reduce CO2, especially in the construction sector. Over 80 % of the
products in the wood industry are currently based on softwood and, according to experts, can only be
replaced with hardwood to a limited extent. The present project therefore focuses on the conifer species
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and hybrid larch (Larix ×eurolepis), being
suitable alternatives in climate change due to their higher drought tolerance and lower susceptibility to biotic
and abiotic damages. They will play an increasing role in particular as a productivity-increasing admixture of
conifers in broadleaved forests, but also to increase stability in spruce stands that are newly emerging
through natural regeneration. The project consistently continues the “German breeding strategy”
(LIESEBACH et al. 2013), in which seed orchards are established for the named tree species in order to
bring in first seed harvests in 10-15 years and thus guarantee a sustainable seed supply with high-quality
reproductive material.

Approach

WP 1: Production of grafts for the establishment of seed orchards
WP 2: Site acquisition and preparation for seed orchards
WP 3: Single tree progeny tests of Scots pine
WP 4: Single tree progeny tests of Douglas fir
WP 5: Seed orchard design and establishment
WP 6: Parentage analysis in hybrid larch to determine the authoritative pollen donors
WP 7: Genetic fingerprinting
WP 8: Interim reports, final report, presentation of results in scientific journals