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U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

A Tree Improvement Program for Eastern Cottonwood in the Southeastern United States

A southwide project was initiated in 1995 to develop eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. var. deltoides) clones capable of producing 5-10 dry tons/acre/year in short rotation woody crop culture. The Southeast was subdivided into six subregions: Southeast Atlantic (SA = NC to eastern GA), East Central (EC = TN and northern AL), East Gulf (EG = south AL, west GA, northwest FL, and east MS), Lower Mississippi River Valley (LM = Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA), West Central (WC = west AR and east OK), and West Gulf (WG = west LA and east TX). Open-pollinated seeds have been collected from several mother trees in each of 72 natural stands in the three eastern subregions (SA, EC, and EG), and cuttings have been collected from 208 clones of prior genetics programs for the three western subregions (LM, WC, and WG). DNA analyses of leaf samples from the mother trees in the 72 natural stands and from part of the 208 clones were conducted at LSU for evaluation of geographic patterns in RAPD and AFLP markers. The open-pollinated seeds were germinated at the University of Florida and vegetatively propagated to produce rooted seedling cuttings for four field trials located in eastern NC, northwest FL, southwest AL, and southeast MO. Results are presented for phenotypic variation in wood specific gravity of trees and clones from the six subregions (collected and analyzed by Mississippi State University). Summaries are given for variation in rooting ability of seedlings (graduate project at University of Florida) and geographic patterns of RAPD and AFLP markers (graduate project at LSU). Geographic trends in first-year results for height growth and Melampsora leaf rust resistance at the four field sites are described.


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Author(s): Samuel B. Land, Jr., Michael Stine, Xiaohong Ma, Donald L. Rockwood, M. V. Warwell

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 2001

Section: Contribution Papers