Controlled mass pollination in loblolly pine to increase genetic gains

Abstract

Controlled mass pollination (CMP) is one way to increase genetic gains from traditional wind-pollinated seed orchards. Methodology is under development by several forestry companies in the southern USA. Costs of CMP depend on the efficient installation, pollination, and removal of inexpensive paper bags. Even in pilot-scale studies these costs seem reasonable. Net present values from CMP in a sample of sixty-seven loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seed orchards in the Western Gulf Forest Tree Improvement Program are conservatively expected to average $108 per acre of plantation established with seedlings from CMP among the best six parents in each of five breeding regions and $154 per acre for CMP among the best pair of parents in each breeding region. Key words: supplemental mass pollination, expected genetic gains, pollen contamination