Tree Improvement 101 - Module 4: Employing Tree Improvement Concepts for Resistance Breeding
Webinar Details
When:
Apr 26, 2024 1:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 01:00 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Presenter(s):
- Kathleen "Katie" McKeever PhD - Forest Pathologist, State, Private & Tribal Forestry, Forest Health Protection, US Forest Service
- Carolyn "Carrie" Pike PhD - Regeneration Specialist, Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) Program, USDA Forest Service - Eastern Region State, Private, and Tribal Forestry
CEU Credits/Certificate Offered:
- New York Logger Training - Trained Logger Certification (NYLT-TLC) - .25 hour NYLT TLC Credit [credits applied for]
- Certificate of Participation
- Georgia Master Timber Harvester - Continuing Logger Ed. (GaMTH CLE) - 1 hour CLE - MTH Category B Credit
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
Module 4: This final module will demonstrate how tree improvement is utilized to advance resistance in forest trees to pests and pathogens.
This will include breeding programs for Port-orford-cedar (Phyophthora lateralis root disease), ash (emerald ash borer), American elm (Dutch elm disease), and other systems. We’ll explore the successes and challenges faced by resistance breeding programs and describe tactics used to implement these programs across the country.
Additional Information
Let’s explore how tree improvement concepts are employed in resistance breeding to enhance the ability of forest trees to withstand pests and diseases.
- Context:
- Forests in North America face threats from both native and nonnative pests and pathogens.
- Invasive species, often introduced through international trade, devastate entire ecosystems.
- Examples include white pine blister rust, Dutch elm disease, and emerald ash borer.
- Resistance Breeding Strategies:
- Selective Breeding: Identify the most desirable trees (elite, lingering individuals) from natural stands or plantations.
- Mating: Breed or mate these elite trees to create genetically improved offspring.
- Progeny Testing: Evaluate the resulting progeny, and/or parents, to assess their resistance traits.
- Examples:
- Port-Orford-Cedar: Breeding programs aim to combat Phytophthora lateralis root disease.
- Ash Trees: Efforts focus on countering emerald ash borer infestations.
- American Elm: Dutch elm disease-resistant varieties are sought.
- Other Systems: Various tree species face specific threats.
- Challenges and Opportunities:
- Long-Term Approach: Resistance breeding requires sustained investment and coordination.
- Maintaining Genetic Variation: Balancing resistance with genetic diversity.
- Cultural Value: Some species receive support from volunteers due to cultural significance.
In summary, resistance breeding combines tree improvement principles with genetic advancements to enhance forest health and combat pests and diseases.
Learn More:
- Breeding for Resistance to Tree Pests: Successes, Challenges, and a Guide to the Future
- Key lessons from resistant tree breeding programmes in the Northern Hemisphere
- Genetic resistance to Phytophthora lateralis in Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) – Basic building blocks for a resistance program
- Assessing the durability, stability, and usability of genetic resistance to a non-native fungal pathogen in two pine species
- Breeding trees resistant to insects and diseases: putting theory into application
About Our Presenter(s)
Katie McKeever provides technical assistance to federal, state, private, and tribal partners on forest health topics. She received her MSc and PhD in Plant Pathology from Washington State University and BSc in Forest Health from SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry.
https://rngr.net
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