Tree breeding technology

There is absolutely no doubt that tree breeding works. Like it's more established cousins, animal and plant breeding, traditional tree breeding techniques have proven themselves as an effective way of achieving truly impressive results.

At the North Carolina State University - Industry Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, for example, the loblolly pine breeding program has achieved volume gains of 12 from their first generation rogued seed orchard. They expect to reach gains of 18% from rogued second-generation orchards.

It's also important to note that these improvements in gain represent an averaging out over large numbers of parents. Indeed, the three top crosses within this program are expected to generate volume gains of 40%, while the single best cross is expected to generate volume gains of 60%.

Nor were these benefits limited merely to volume gains. The top crosses were also substantially more resistant to rust infection, with a 50% increase in resistance.