Whitebark pine operational cone collection instructions and seed transfer guidelines

This issue of Nutcracker Notes contains articles on the importance of genetics in whitebark pine research and management. On pages 10 through 13, Mahalovich and Hoff outline seed transfer guidelines and seed collection instructions for whitebark pine that are blister-rust resistant. They include criteria for collecting cones such as tree condition, form, age, cone condition, and caches. Other information provided are how to distinguish whitebark from limber pine and how to protect cones from predation. specific instructions on what parent trees to collect from. From isozyme studies, this species has little genetic diversity, thus is considered a generalist species. Seeds can be transferred within mountain ranges listed, but not across ranges. The guidelines are provisional, because of zone boundaries, limited genetic information, and issues associated with seed viability in storage, the author suggests a wider transfer from seed source, with emphasis on using seed collected from blister rust resistant trees: 1 degree latitude +/- 50 miles, 1 degree longitude +/- 50 miles and no restriction on elevation.