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

Predicting genetic parameters and tolerance to pitch canker in slash pine

Pitch canker is an increasingly important threat to Southeastern forests, especially in slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.). Its increasing prevalence in the region due to mechanical damage from increased storm activity has led to concern from private and public stakeholders about poor characterization of tolerance from available germplasm. Traditional testing methodologies established to characterize the genetic mechanisms controlling pitch canker tolerance were limited by poor characterization of Fusarium isolate virulence and experiment design limitations. Here we describe an alternative experiment design intended to greatly expand the numbers of families that may be screened and increase the power of differentiating among pine families and pathogen isolates evaluated at the USFS Resistance Screening Center. Using this alternative design, genetic parameter estimates for pitch canker tolerance are presented and their implications for the future development of a deployment-oriented slash pine population are discussed.


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Author(s): Andrew D Sims, Gary F Peter, Jeremy T Brawner

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 2021