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Forest Tree Breeding in Britain

Systematic work on the improvement of forest trees by selection and breeding was begun by the research branch of the British Forestry Commission in 1948, but research into the effects of seed origin or provenance on the vigour, growth habit, disease resistance and other characteristics of the more important species, has been in progress since 1926. The results obtained from this work have recently been summarised by Macdonald et al (1957). Provenance research continues, being the concern of the two silvicultural sections in research branch, the northern section dealing mainly with species used in Scotland and northern England and the southern section with species used in England and Wales. The genetics section was given the task of producing by selection and breeding, superior varieties of pine, larch, Douglas fir and beech for use by both the State and Private sectors of forestry in Britain, and a programme of work was drawn up on the basis of recommendations made by the Forestry Commissioners advisory committee on forest research.


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Author(s): J. D. Matthews

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Northeastern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1959