scholarly journals Recent results of Czech-American fir hybridization research

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 64-71
Author(s):  
J. Kobliha ◽  
J. Stejskal ◽  
P. Škorpík ◽  
J. Frampton
Keyword(s):  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Abies Cephalonica ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
The Individual

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Christmas tree plantations in North Carolina are infested by root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. This disease kills almost 100% of Fraser fir material and leaves the soil permanently infested. Control crossings of Mediterranean fir hybrids Abies cilicica × Abies cephalonica with Abies fraseri were performed to ensure possibly resistant hybrid material of desired Christmas tree parameters. Pollen of various clones of A. fraseri was shipped to the Czech Republic by NCSU. Control pollinations were performed in April/May 2010 and 2011 in our hybridization seed orchards. Female strobili were isolated in the period of their highest receptibility. Cones were collected during September. Cones were dried and completely disintegrated. Basic parameters of cones and seeds were assessed for each seed lot. Seed samples of the individual seed lots were X-rayed for assessment of the final share of full seeds. In 2010, the most successful combination CZ2 × NC81 brought 7% of viable seeds. In 2011 the most successful combination was CZ2 × NC26 with 18% of viable seeds.

Bionomics of the pine needle scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an emerging pest in Christmas tree (Pinaceae) plantations in southern Québec, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Frdéric Guay ◽  
Amy Bernier-Desmarais ◽  
Jean-François Doherty ◽  
Conrad Cloutier
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Pine Needle ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
The Status

AbstractThe pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), has the status of an emerging pest in Christmas tree (Pinaceae) plantations in Québec, Canada. The scale is not known to cause any significant damage yet and is not generally monitored by growers. However, it can be an obstacle for exportation to Christmas tree markets where scale insects are strictly regulated. In this study, we describe its life cycle in Christmas tree plantations in southern Québec. We confirm the presence of both parthenogenetic and sexual forms of the scale on Fraser fir Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poiret (Pinaceae) grown as Christmas trees, and of parasitoid and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) specialists that could contribute to its control.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Seedlings of Fraser, Momi, and Siberian Fir for Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
K.C. Parker ◽  
D.M. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Siberian Fir ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Containerized Seedlings

Containerized seedlings of Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.], momi fir (A. Firma Sieb. & Zucc.), and Siberian fir (A. siberica Ledeb. var. argentea) were tested for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands (two experiments). Fraser fir was very susceptible, with many plants dead after 4 to 5 weeks. Symptoms developed more slowly in Siberian fir, but most plants were dead or dying after 10 weeks. Momi fir appeared somewhat resistant to the pathogen. Though undesirable as a Christmas tree, momi fir might be useful as a rootstock for grafting better quality species in areas affected by root rot.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and Wild Grape (Vitisspp.) Control in Fraser Fir

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Richardson ◽  
Michael W. Marshall ◽  
Robert E. Uhlig ◽  
Bernard H. Zandstra
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Wild Grape ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Parthenocissus Quinquefolia ◽  
Christmas Tree Species

Virginia creeper and wild grape are troublesome perennial vines that often infest Christmas tree plantations. Field studies were conducted to evaluate Fraser fir injury and Virginia creeper and wild grape control with directed applications of triclopyr (1,680 g ai/ha) alone and in combination with 2,4-D (1,120 g ai/ha), clopyralid (280 g ai/ha), and halosulfuron (36 g ai/ha). Additional treatments included 2,4-D, clopyralid, glyphosate (1,120 g ai/ha), halosulfuron, hexazinone (560 g ai/ha), mesotrione (105 g ai/ha), and sulfometuron (71 g ai/ha) applied alone; and a mixture of hexazinone plus mesotrione. In the triclopyr-containing treatments, Fraser fir injury ranged from 6 to 13% at 1 mo after treatment (MAT) and was 4 to 8% at 11 MAT. Leader growth was not impacted by the herbicide treatments. At 11 MAT, all triclopyr-containing treatments controlled Virginia creeper 93 to 98% and wild grape 98 to 100%, which was greater than the control observed with glyphosate at 63 and 59%, respectively. Virginia creeper and wild grape control with 2,4-D was 88 to 90%. Clopyralid, halosulfuron, hexazinone, hexazinone plus mesotrione, mesotrione, and sulfometuron provided less than 66% control of both perennial vines. Directed applications of triclopyr-containing treatments or 2,4-D were effective management tools for selective removal of wild grape and Virginia creeper from Fraser fir Christmas tree plantations. Additional research is needed on the potential sensitivity of other commonly grown Christmas tree species to triclopyr-containing treatments.

scholarly journals Design and Implementation of a Soil Matric Potential-based Automated Irrigation System for Drip Irrigating Fraser Fir

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1030-1036
Author(s):  
Pascal Nzokou ◽  
Nicholas J. Gooch ◽  
Bert M. Cregg
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Operational Flexibility ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Similar System ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Natural Range ◽  
Automated Irrigation System

Irrigation of fraser fir (Abies fraseri) in Christmas tree production is gaining importance in the upper midwestern United States because of the intensive planting of this species out of its natural range. However, current scheduling practices rely on empirical observations with no monitoring of soil moisture and no use of automated irrigation system. The goal of this project was to design, construct, and implement a tensiometer-based automated irrigation system for fraser fir Christmas tree plantations that would (1) use existing technologies, (2) apply water based on changes in soil moisture content, (3) provide operational flexibility, and (4) interface with a computer for system changes, data collection, and system modifications. Soil tensiometers equipped with 4- to 20-milliampere transducers were installed at two drip-irrigated tree farms. Water on demand was controlled by soil moisture tension levels that triggered the stimulation of a relay wired to solenoids delivering irrigation water to the various treatments. The system functioned according to the design as expected. However, several issues associated with the need for regular maintenance of tensiometers, computer programming, and system wiring created some challenges regarding the reliability and transferability of similar system to commercial facilities.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation in Early Growth and Bud Production among Natural Populations of Fraser Fir

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Emerson ◽  
John Frampton ◽  
Steven E. McKeand
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Tree Quality ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Source Site ◽  
Tree Production

A series of open-pollinated progeny tests of Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] was analyzed to determine natural variation among six geographic seed sources and to estimate genetic parameters for traits important in Christmas tree production. Highly significant differences were found among seed sources and families within sources (P ≤ 0.0001) for height after 4 years in the field. The individual-tree within-population heritability values for the traits measured in Year 4 ranged from 0 to 0.44, with height having the highest heritability, overall tree quality having a heritability of 0.14, and bud and branching traits having varying heritabilities. Heritability values for height at age 4 varied greatly among the six sources, from 0.15 for the Black Mountains to 0.67 for the Great Smoky Mountains. Highly significant seed source × site interactions as well as family within source × site interactions existed for height. Stability variance analysis, after removing the environmental heterogeneity, showed significant instability across the test sites for two of the six seed sources for height after 4 years, and some rank changes occurred. The high heritability values for height indicate that economically important genetic gains can be made in Fraser fir for Christmas tree production because of the importance of height in determining Christmas tree value.

scholarly journals Phytophthora abietivora, A New Species Isolated from Diseased Christmas Trees in Connecticut, U.S.A.

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3057-3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Wei Li ◽  
Neil P. Schultes ◽  
James A. LaMondia ◽  
Richard S. Cowles
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
The World ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
A New Species

A number of fir species (Abies) are produced as Christmas trees around the world. In particular, Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) is popular as it yields high-quality Christmas trees in temperate North America and Europe. A Phytophthora sp. causing root rot on Fraser fir was isolated from a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut, U.S.A., and found to be new to science according to morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis using multilocus DNA sequences from ITS, Cox1, β-Tub, Nadh1, and Hsp90 loci. Thus, it was described and illustrated as Phytophthora abietivora. An informative Koch’s postulates test revealed that P. abietivora was the pathogen causing root rot of Fraser fir.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Pathogenicity of Pythium vexans Isolates from Fraser Fir in North Carolina

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly L. Ivors ◽  
Z. Gloria Abad ◽  
D. Michael Benson
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Pythium Vexans

The pathogenicity of Pythium vexans isolates collected from fir samples with typical root rot symptoms in North Carolina was evaluated on Fraser fir seedlings (Abies fraseri). Two replicated pathogenicity trials involving seven treatments were conducted in the lath house and greenhouse. Although the P. vexans isolates examined in these trials were able to colonize Fraser fir root systems, they did not cause mortality or incite root rot symptoms. In comparison, Phytophthora cinnamomi, a known aggressive pathogen of Fraser fir, caused severe root rot symptoms in all plants. These experiments provided no evidence that P. vexans is a pathogen of Fraser fir. Accepted for publication 12 July 2008. Published 6 October 2008.

scholarly journals Post-Emergent Control of Nuisance Cones in Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Plantations

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Bert Cregg ◽  
Dana Ellison ◽  
Jill O’Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Fraser Fir

scholarly journals Recent fir hybridization research in the light of Czech-American cooperation

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 162-170
Author(s):  
J. Kobliha ◽  
J. Stejskal
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
State University ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
North Carolina State University ◽  
Abies Koreana ◽  
Early Testing ◽  
Control Pollination ◽  
Tree Production

The project is based on control pollination of different fir species in the sense of interspecific hybridization. The aim of this procedure is a new bred material for specific needs of forestry and Christmas tree production. Concrete breeding aims are represented in this sense by resistance to limiting environmental conditions (e.g. drought) and by resistance to diseases and pests. The experiment follows a traditional hybridization program of the department focused on the genus <I>Abies</I> and recently it has been extended by the Czech-U.S. cooperation (North Carolina State University Raleigh). For hybridization mainly Mediterranean fir species are used together with Asian species (e.g. <I>Abies koreana</I>) and of course American species (above all <I>Abies fraseri</I>). Hybridizations will be followed by <I>Phytophthora cinnamomi</I> screenings that have high priority. Hybrid progenies will undergo early testing and their vegetative propagation for cloning purposes is being considered.

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