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Breeding and Testing Pitch x Loblolly Pine Hybrids for the Northeast

In 1964 the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station and Westvaco- - with the cooperation then and later of many organizations and individuals- - selected pitch pines in several sections of the Northeast and loblolly pines in Maryland and Delaware, collected scions from these trees, and established breeding orchards. Controlled pollinations in the Station's orchard between individual clones of the two species have produced enough hybrid seed and resulting seedlings so that 19 test plantings in 8 states have been established--all within the last 5 years. Initial results indicate that seedlings of certain crosses between the two species have good form, grow about as rapidly as loblolly pine and appreciably faster than pitch pine, and are sufficiently hardy for at least some sections of the Northeast outside of loblolly pine's natural range.


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Author(s): Silas Little, I. F. Trew

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Northeastern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1975