Research & Breeding
Tree improvement foresters work hard to make trees healthier, more disease-resistant and—in the case of trees that may one day become boards or even telephone poles—straighter. This work is done by finding the best tree “families” and breeding them.
Just like humans, every tree has two parents. In pine trees and other conifers, the parents come in the form of pinecones.
Breeding PInecones
The male cone, called the catkin, produces pollen that the wind picks up and carries to neighboring trees to pollinate their female cones. The catkin has a very short lifespan, falling from the tree after the pollen dissipates.
BREEDING PINECONES
The female cone, called the flower, starts out very small. When it is ready for pollen, its scales open up for a short time. Then the cone continues to grow on the tree for a year-and-a-half until its seeds are fully developed.
BREEDING PINECONES
In forestry, the tree breeding process starts with controlled pollination in a seed orchard. Bags are used to keep the “wrong” pollen from reaching the female cones. Pollen from an optimal tree is then placed inside the bag.
As you watch the video below, make a list of some of the desirable qualities tree improvement foresters work to bring out in the trees they breed.
Breeding Pinecones
Researchers use seed orchards to produce as many pinecones—and thus, seeds—as possible. Look at the pictures below. How is a seed orchard different from a working forest that is grown for its timber? Why do you think that is?
Seed Orchard
Working Forest
BREEDING PINECONES
BREEDING PINECONES
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Learn more about Research and Breeding and what comes next in the Forestry Lifecycle: