WHITE OAK GENETICS AND TREE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UPDATES
White Oak Genetics and Tree Improvement Program Update
We have made a lot of progress since acorn collecting started in 2019! Seedling growth in the nursery was good and we have over 3000 seedlings representing 50 parent trees from 9 different states ready to be out-planted into progeny tests in March 2021.
The distilling industry has taken the lead in supplying land and support for progeny testing in Kentucky where a repository to conserve genetic material via offspring from all seed sources, and other smaller progeny tests are being established. We are seeking partners to help us establish several smaller regional progeny tests sites across the range of white oak. Currently, we have potential partners in Indiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
In 2020, over 75 grafts were made to initiate the clone bank. Acorn and scion collecting will continue annually until the entire geographic range of white oak is represented.
The 2020 acorn collecting effort is underway with volunteers spread across 20 states!
The program can use your help in many ways. We need help getting acorn collections from across the entire range of white oak and we need partners for regional progeny tests. For more information, on acorn collecting click here. For more information about the project, click here.
We have made a lot of progress since acorn collecting started in 2019! Seedling growth in the nursery was good and we have over 3000 seedlings representing 50 parent trees from 9 different states ready to be out-planted into progeny tests in March 2021.
The distilling industry has taken the lead in supplying land and support for progeny testing in Kentucky where a repository to conserve genetic material via offspring from all seed sources, and other smaller progeny tests are being established. We are seeking partners to help us establish several smaller regional progeny tests sites across the range of white oak. Currently, we have potential partners in Indiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
In 2020, over 75 grafts were made to initiate the clone bank. Acorn and scion collecting will continue annually until the entire geographic range of white oak is represented.
The 2020 acorn collecting effort is underway with volunteers spread across 20 states!
The program can use your help in many ways. We need help getting acorn collections from across the entire range of white oak and we need partners for regional progeny tests. For more information, on acorn collecting click here. For more information about the project, click here.
Acorn Collection Begins
As of May 7, 2019, 24% of 17,000 acorns that were collected last fall from 91 parent trees across nine states had begun to emerge as new seedlings! White oak twigs (scions) collected from 21 of these sources representing 6 states were grafted onto bur oak and swamp white oak root stock to start a clone bank. The white oak seedlings will be outplanted into progeny tests to start phase 2 of the project. A large “master” progeny test in Kentucky, and many smaller, regional progeny tests spread throughout the geographic range of white oak will be established. For a complete update or to find out how you can assist and even become a part of this project go to…