^ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR M library UREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OREGON STATE OFFICE I * ■iiWPi Ml kV-: ' . 'A. 1 V %.t* ^ V, •L ■ ,! .1 5 ? .fv t SO a^. I'lfC FOREST TREE IMPROVEMENT ANNUAL REPORT - FY 1985 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 . Introduction 1 2. Summary of Accomplishments 2 3. Tree Selection 3 4. Cone Collection 7 5. Container Seedling Production 10 6. Progeny Test Site Establishment 11 7 . Progeny Grovrth Measurement 14 8. Seed Orchard Development 15 9. Improved Seed Production and Reforestation 18 10. Cultural Treatment of Selected Trees 21 11. White Pine Blister Rust Disease Control 22 12. Other Accomplishments 23 BLM Library Denver Federal Center Bldg. 50, OC-521 P.O. Box 25047 D«ver,CO 80225 ENCE / FOREST TREE IMPROVEMENT ANNUAL REPORT - FY 1985 1. INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Land Management initiated a tree improvement program in 1965 to increase the volume of wood production from 1.9 million acres of commercial forest lands in western Oregon. The plan called for 233 test plantations to select genetically superior parent trees and 4 seed tree orchards to produce genetically improved tree seed for reforestation programs on BLM lands. Genetically improved seed will gradually replace the field collection of tree seed for reforestation over the next four decades. The genetic gain expected from the first phase of improved seed is 10 percent and 16 percent from the second phase of improved seed. These gains, on an incremental basis beginning with 3 percent in the first decade and achieving the full 16 percent in the fourth decade, have been incorporated into the allowable cut computations in western Oregon districts, except Medford District. Present tree improvement program goals are for western Oregon districts to establish progeny test plantations for the testing of selected parent trees by 1988 and seed orchards by 1994. To date, progeny test program is 80 percent completed and the improved clonal seed orchard is only 20 percent completed. In FY 1985, western Oregon districts collected over 1,000 pounds of improved seed from genetically superior parent trees and seed orchards. This annual report summarizes the accomplishments in FY 1985, and the status of of tree improvement and seed orchard programs in western Oregon. This annual report is organized to follow the sequential steps as shown on Fig. 1, page 4. ENa 2 2. SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS The FY 1985 accomplishments in tree improvement and seed orchard activities are summarized below: Step 1 - Tree selection 78 Step 2 - Cone collection (for progeny test purpose) 359 Step 2 - Cone and Seed processing (1984*s crops): Tree Improve. 102 Reforestation 475 Step 3 - Container seedling production: Tree improvement 464 M Reforestation 365 M Step 4 - Progeny test site establishment: Number selected 13 Number prepared 24 Number fenced 19 Number planted 16 Step 5 - Progeny measurement: 5-year growth measurement 42 10-year growth measurement 1 Step 6 - Seed orchard development: Number of trees grafted in production orchard 286 Number of trees grafted in breeding orchard 2441 Number of rootstock planted in production orchard 4766 Number of rootstock planted in breeding orchard 8142 Number of acres prepared for production orchard 213 Number of acres prepared for breeding orchard 58 Number of acres of timber removed for seed orchard 200 Step 7 - Cultural treatment (thinning & fertilization) 740 Step 7 - Improved seed production: Superior parent trees 523 Tree seed orchards 490 Step 7 - Improved stock planted: Douglas-fir 124 Sugar pine & white pine 952 trees trees trees bushels seedlings seedlings sites sites sites sites sites sites trees trees trees trees acres acres acres trees pounds pounds acres acres 1ENC5, ( 3 3. TREE SELECTION Tree selection is the first step in tree improvement program (Fig. 1). Selection criteria generally include fast growth rate, good pruning ability, straight stem, horizontal branches, small branch diameter, small crown diameter and disease resistance. Desirable trees are selected from natural stands within a defined breeding unit. There are 80 breeding units in the western Oregon tree improvement program: Douglas-fir 65, sugar pine 10, noble fir 2, western hemlock 2 and ponderosa pine 1. Selected trees are the base population from which genetically superior trees will be selected, through progeny testing, for improved seed production, seed orchard establishment and advanced generation breeding. Since only native species and local populations within a breeding unit are used in the program, no major maladaptations are expected. Individual tree records (tree locations, seed zone, elevation, phenotypic characteristics and cone production information) are kept and maintained by districts. In FY 1985, two districts selected 78 trees: Salem District selected 26 Douglas-fir, 7 western white pine and 5 western hemlock trees and Coos Bay District selected 30 Douglas-fir trees. These additional trees bring the total selection to 13,370 from 8 tree species (Table 1). Proportions of trees selected by district are Salem 18%, Eugene 8%, Roseburg 20%, Medford 46% and Coos Bay 8% (Fig. 2). Proportions of tree selected by species are Douglas-fir 66%, sugar pine 23% and only 11% for 6 minor species (Fig. 3). Tree selection for the western Oregon tree improvement program is essentially completed, except western white pine and ponderosa pine in the Medford District (Table 2). Shasta red fir, white fir and ponderosa pine in the Medford District and ponderosa pine in the Roseburg District are for reforestation cone collection only. ENOL /-5 1 » i '■tie, G B L M TREE Fig. 1 improvement (DF) PROGRAM TREE SELECTION - -> CONE COLLECTION DATA COLLECTION < > 5-year data 10-,15-year data \ seedling PRODUCTION I V PROGENY TESTING G SCION COLLECTION I I V GRAFTING SEED ORCHARD DEVE LO PMENT I I V 1ST PHASE SEED orchard B REEDING I I V GRAFTING or SEEDLING I I V 2ND PHASE SEED ORCHARD G SEED PRODUCTION RE forestation ENCL / 5 Table 1. NUMBER OF TREES SELECTED TO DATE (as of 9/30/85) District DF SP WWP NF PP WH SRF WF Total % of Total Salem 1,695 205 44 219 - 241 - - 2,404 18.0% Eugene 1,086 - - - - - - - 1,086 8.1% Roseburg 2,223 418 25 - 16 - - - 2,682 O CM Medford 2,712 2,379 31 - 669 - 53 294 6,138 45.9% Coos Bay 1.060 _ _ _ _ 1.060 7.9% Total 8,776 3,002 100 219 685 241 53 294 13,370 100 . 0% % of Total 65.6% 22.5% .8% 1.6% 5.1% 1.8% .4% 2.2% 100 . 0% DF=Douglas-f ir, SP=sugar pine, WWP=westem white pine, NF=noble fir, PP=ponderosa pine, WH=westem hemlock, SRF=Shasta red fir, and WF=white fir. Table 2. TREE SELECTION PERCENT COMPLETION (as of 9/30/85) District DF SP WWP Salem 125% 137% 100% Eugene 100% - - Roseburg 112% 100% 100% Medford 118% 99% 62% Coos Bay 100% — — NF PP WH SRF WF 105% - 103% - - — 100% - - - - 59% - 106% 107% _ EKfClL /-'7 6 Fig. 2 »=* e: Ft c e: iM T OR- treie: s e: i_ e: c T 3: o Ml bv ojistrict Fig. 3 E* e: Ft c e: iM T OR "TFtEiE: s EiL e: c ~r 31 o isj BV' sf>e:c3:e:s &TCL / -? 7 A . CONE COLLECTIOM Good cone crops occur once every 3 to 5 years , and vary among species and locations. Matured cones are collected from selected trees when cone crops are available. Purposes of cone collection are : (1) to provide seed for progeny test to evaluate the genetic quality of selected trees; (2) to set up a seed bank for future use; and (3) to supply genetically improved seed for reforestation. Cone collection for the progeny test purpose is reported in this section. Improved seed collected from genetically superior parent trees and seed orchards are reported in Improved Seed Production section. In spring of 1985, all field reports indicated that an excellent cone crop was developing in western Oregon. The cone crop turned up not as good as previously expected because of a severe frost between April and May. In the fall of 1985, three western Oregon districts collected cones from 359 selected trees for the progeny test purpose: District DF SP WWP NF WH District Total Salem 36 60 44 74 82 296 Roseburg 33 - - - - 33 Coos Bay 30 _ _ _ 30 Total 99 60 44 74 82 359 To date five western Oregon districts have collected cones from 10,181 selected trees for the progeny test purpose (Table 3 & 4). Proportions of cone collection by district are: Salem 17%, Eugene 10%, Roseburg 23%, Medford 40% and Coos Bay 10% (Fig. 4). Proportions of cone collection by tree species are: Douglas-fir 75%, sugar pine 19% and only 6% for 4 minor species (Fig. 5). No cone collection was made from selected Shasta red fir and white fir trees. mcL / '9 8 Table 3. NUMBER OF TREES WITH i CONE COLLECTED FOR PROGENY TEST (as of 9/30/85) District DF SP WWP NF PP WH SRF WF Total % of Total Salem 1,228 71 44 201 - 236 - - 1,780 17.5% Eugene 1,031 - - - - - - - 1,031 10.1% Roseburg 1,870 400 25 - 16 - - - 2,311 22.7% Medford 2,500 1,500 27 - 39 - 0 0 4,066 39.9% Coos Bay 993 _ _ _ _ _ 993 9.8% Total 7,622 1,971 96 201 55 236 0 0 10,181 100.0% % of Total 74.9% 19.4% .9% 2.0% .5% 2.3% 0% 0% 100.0% DF=Douglas-f ir, SP=sugar pine, WWP=westem white pine, NF=noble fir, PP=ponderosa pine, WH=westem hemlock, SRF=Shasta red fir, and WF=white fir. Table 4. CONE COLLECTION PERCENT COMPLETION (as of 9/30/85) District DF SP WWP NF PP WH SRF WF Salem 91% 47% 100% 96% - 23% - - Eugene 95% - - - - - - - Roseburg 84%* 96%** 100% - 100% - - - Medford 109% 63%** 54% - 3% - 0% 0% Coos Bay 94% _ _ — _ * Most uncollected are group I's. ** There are sufficient cone lots for the white pine blister rust disease resistance program. ENa 9 »=*E:iRCEM-r OF^ cokie: Fig. 4 coL_i_Ec:T3:orsi b v- odc RDCCT i=* e: R c: e: rM T Fig. 5 i COK4E OOl — I — ECTniOIM B S' SF»EIdnEIS PP ENCt/-/ / 10 5. CONTAIWER SEEDLING PRODUCTION Container seedling are grown at Bureau’s Homing Tree Seed Orchard, Colton, Oregon and Sprague Tree Seed Orchard, Merlin, Oregon. Each seed orchard has two greenhouses, and each greenhouse has the capacity of growing 454,000 seedlings in 4-cubic inch or 222,000 seedlings in lO-cubic inch container. Container seedlings are produced for the progeny test, seed orchard establishment and reforestation. The number of container seedlings produced in FY 1985 at both seed orchards are: Tree Improvement Reforestation Seed Orchard 10-cubic inch 4-cubic inch 10-cubic inch 4-cubic inch Homing 235,000 0 203,000 2,400 Sprague 229.000 0 160.000 0 Total 464.000 0 363.000 2.400 Approximately 65 percent of the tree improvement container seedlings are produced for other tree improvement cooperators in the Roseburg and Medford Tree Improvement Cooperative, and Forest Service. These cooperators are: Boise Cascade Corporation, Champion International Corporation, Roseburg Lumber Company, Mt. Hood Rational Forest, Umpqua National Forest, Rogue River National Forest and Siskiyou National Forest. The cost of container seedling production is estimated $450.00 per thousand seedlings. Tree Improvement cooperators will reimburse the Bureau for their shares of costs for growing such seedlings. The cooperators’ share of costs for FY 1985 container seedling production totaled $98,000. mcic 11 6. PROGENY TEST SITE ESTABLISHMENT Progeny tests are established to evaluate the genetic value of the selected trees and provide genetic materials for advanced generation breeding. There are four phases in establishing a progeny test site, namely, site selection, preparation, fencing and tree planting. In FY 1985, four western Oregon districts selected 13 sites, prepared 24 sites, fenced 19 test sites and planted 16 sites (Table 5). As of 9/30/85, five western Oregon districts have selected 223 sites, prepared 177 sites, fenced 171 sites and planted 148 sites (Table 6 & Fig. 6). Approximately 64 percent of the total 233 progeny test sites planned for the western Oregon tree improvement program have been completed to date. Eugene District had completed all 27 sites in 1982. The distribution of progeny test sites by district and seedling age class is presented in Table 7. Table 5. PROGENY TEST SITE ESTABLISHMENT IN FY 1985 Number of Progeny Test Sites District Salem Roseburg Medford Coos Bay Total Selected 1 0 8 4 13 Prepared 9 4 8 3 24 Fenced 7 5 6 1 19 Planted 3 9 4 0 16 .ENo; 12 Table 6, STATUS OF PROGENY TEST SITE ESTABLISHMENT (as of 9/30/85) Number of Progeny Test Sites District Selected Prepared Fenced Planted Planned Salem 57 35 35 26 60 Eugene 27 27 27 27 27 Roseburg 51 50 50 43 53 Medford 59 37 35 29 64 Coos Bay 29 28 24 23 29 Total 223 177 171 148 233 Fig. 6 coos BAY ENa /'/^ 13 Table 7. NUMBER OF PROGENY TEST SITES BY DISTRICT AND TREE AGE Year Tree Salem BuKene Roseburs Medford Coos Bay Total Sown Ane Full Part* Full Part Full Part Full Part Full Part Full Part 1985 1** 10 8 9 4 31 1984 2 3 9 11 23 1983 3 6 6 5 7 2 8 18 1982 4 9 2 11 1981 5 18 5 6 6 7 18 15 1980 6 6 14 1 15 6 1979 7 1 10 5 3 14 1 15 19 1978 8 8 8 1977 9 3 3 1976 10 1 1 1975 11 1 1 1974 12 4 6 10 1973 13 2 2 1972 14 5 5 1971 15 0 1970 16 0 1969 17 3 3 Total 22 20 27 0 47 10 31 28 27 0 154 58 Adjusted 28 8 27 0 52 0 45 0 27 0 179 8 No. Planned 60 27 53 64 29 233 % completion 47% 100% 98% 69% 93% 80% * Partially completed progeny test sites ** Seedlings to be planted or heldover in spring 1986 Note: Eugene District's four mini sites (1976 sowing) are not included here. ENfOt 14 7 . PROGENY GROWTH MEASUREMENT Seedlings planted in the progeny test sites are scheduled for measurement at 5, 10 and 15 years of age. Seedling survival, height and diameter growth and damage data are taken from individual progeny test site by districts. Data were keypunched through contracting or at the Oregon State Office, and analyzed by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station (PNW) , Corvallis, Oregon. Results of the analyses were distributed to districts for the field and seed orchard uses. Districts used progeny test data to identify genetically superior parent trees for reforestation cone collection and seed orchard development. In FY 1985, five western Oregon districts collected data from 42 5-year-old and 1 10-year-old progeny test sites. To date districts have measured 87 5-year-old, 18 10-year-old and 3 15-year-old progeny test sites (Table 8). Table 8. NUMBER OF PROGENY TEST SITES MEASURED 5-year Measurement 10-year Measurement 15-year Measurement District 1985 To Date 1985 To Date 1985 To Date Salem 8 10 0 0 0 0 Eugene 14 15 1 8 0 0 Roseburg 6 26 0 4 0 0 Medford 13 23 0 0 0 0 Coos Bay 1 13 0 6 0 3 Total 42 87 1 18 0 3 l~ll^ norr 8. SEED ORCHARD DEVELOPMENT 15 The Bureau operates four seed orchards in western Oregon. The Homing seed orchard in Salem District was initiated in 1964. The Sprague (CASSO) and Provolt seed orchards in Medford District were initiated in 1967 and 1981, respectively. The Tyrrell seed orchard in Eugene District was started in 1982. Each seed orchard serves at least two western Oregon districts. In FY 1985, 2,727 trees were grafted for seed production and breeding orchards; 12,908 rootstock were planted; and 271 acres were prepared for seed production and breeding orchards (Table 9). The status of seed orchard development as of 9/30/85 is summarized in Table 10. Other accomplishments by individual seed orchards were presented below: Homing Tree Seed Orchard: - Completed controlled-pollination of 1575 Douglas-fir flowers and mass- pollination of 3500 flowering trees. - Produced 13pl bushels of Douglas-fir cones (Table 11). Processed (1984 's cone crops) 102 lots of tree improvement cones and 475 bushels of reforestation cones. Sprague Tree Seed Orchard: Completed controlled-pollination on 281 sugar pine flowers. - Produced 909 sugar pine cones. - Processed (1985 's cone crops) 82 lots of sugar pine cones for tree improvement (totaled 119 pounds) and 84 bushels of sugar pine cones for reforestation (totaled 129 pounds). Completed ripping treatment on 90 acres of orchard. Provolt Tree Seed Orchard: - Completed irrigation system on 25 acres in Letteken Fields. Tyrrell Tree Seed Orchard: - The seed orchard was named after Travis M. Tyrrell, on June 21, 1985. ENCL ^ 16 Table 9. FY 1985 SEED ORCHARD ACCOMPLISHMENTS Activity Homing Sprague Provolt Tyrrell Total 1 . Orchard Grafted a. Clonal seed orchard - Number of acres fillers 0 0 0 0 - No. clones/ramets 260/286 0 0 0 260/286 b. Breeding orchard - Number of acres 7 0 0 0 7 - No. clones/ramets 460/2300 -/141 0 0 460/2441 2. Rootstock Planted a. Clonal seed orchard - Number of acres 0 0 0 42.3 42.3.- - No. of rootstock 0 100 0 4666 4766 b. Breeding orchard - Number of acres 3 0 0 5.75 8.8 - No. of rootstock 5600 0 0 2542 8142 3. Orchard Layout (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 0 0 0 0 0 b. Breeding orchard 37 0 0 12.9 49.7 c. Seedling seed orchard 20 0 0 0 20 d . Other orchard 4 0 0 2.9 6.9 4. Land Cleared/Prepared (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 50 80 23.5 59.5 213 b. Breeding orchard 0 4 29.4 25 58.4 5. Timber Removed (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 50 0 0 150 200 b. Breeding orchard 0 0 0 0 0 ENCI, / Table 10. STATUS OF SEED ORCHARD DEVELOPMENT (as of 9/30/85) 17 Activity HominK SpraRue Provolt Tyrrell Total 1 . Orchard Grafted a. Clonal seed orchard - Number of acres 157 22.8 0 0 179.8 - No. clones/ramets 1353/16290 260/1628 0 0 1613/17918 b. Breeding orchard - Number of acres 37 7.2 0 0 44.2 - No. clones/ramets 460/7460 202/649 0 0 662/8109 c. Seedling seed orchard - Number of acres 46 3.2 0 0 49.2 - Families/seedlings 537/11921 268/1136 0 0 805/13057 2. Rootstock Planted a. Clonal seed orchard - Number of acres 0 18.9 heldover 42.3 61.2 - No. of rootstock 0 2060 1200 4666 7926 b. Breeding orchard - Number of acres 30 4.3 0 5.75 40.1 - No. of rootstock 5600 1400 0 2542 9542 3. Orchard Layout (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 65 117 0 67.5 249.5 b . Breeding orchard 14 15 0 18.65 47.7 c. Seedling seed orchard 18 0 0 0 18 d . Other orchard 4 0 0 2.9 6.9 4. Land Cleared/Prepared (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 50 117 49.2 127 343.2 b. Breeding orchard 0 15 29.4 40.5 84.9 c . Other orchard 0 0 0 6.5 6.5 5. Timber Removed (acres) a. Clonal seed orchard 50 0 0 150 200 ENCL 18 9. IMPROVED SEED PRODUCTION AND REFORESTATIOH The main objective of the tree improvement program is to produce genetically improved seed for reforestation. Improved seed lots were collected from proven superior parent trees that have at least 5-year progeny growth data and from matured seed orchard trees. Most of the improved seed lots were processed at the Bureau's Homing Tree Seed Orchard, Colton, Oregon and Sprague Tree Seed Orchard, Merlin, Oregon. In FY 1985, five western Oregon districts collected 523 pounds of seed from 4 tree species. The Homing seed orchard produced 1301 bushels of Douglas-fir cones or about 454 pounds (Table 12) and Sprague seed orchard produced 36 pounds of sugar pine seed. The amount of improved seed collected in FY 1985 is tabulated below: District Orchard DF Orchard SP Tested DF Elite SP Elite WWP Tested WH District Total Salem 221 - 13 0 0 1 235 Eugene 118 - 115 - 28 - 261 Roseburg 37 0 110 8 0 - 155 Medford 1 36 55 80 4 - 176 Coos Bay 77 _ 109 _ 186 Total 454 36 402 88 32 1 1.013 Natural cone crops occur once every 3 to 5 years . However , there were two cone crops in the last 6 years , and we are predicting two cone crops in the next 6 years, from 1986 to 1991. Based on progresses of the progeny test program and the seed orchard development, we could collect, on the average, 700 pounds (superior Douglas-fir parent trees 150, Douglas-fir seed orchard 400, and minor species, sugar pine, noble fir and western hemlock 150) of improved seed annually from 1986 to 1991. ENCL / 19 Genetically improved seed is being used in the reforestation program. In FY 1985, districts planted 124 acres of Douglas-fir (Roseburg 15 and Coos Bay 109), 949 acres of sugar pine (Salem 7 and Medford 942), and 3 acres of western white pine (Salem). The number of acres planted with genetically improved stock from 1981 to 1985 is summarized below: District Tested DF Elite SP Elite WWP Selected DF Selected NF Selected WH Orchard DF District Total Salem 0 12 3 21 100 10 20 166 Eugene 0 - - 0 - - 0 0 Roseburg 20 0 0 0 - - 2 22 Medford 0 2156* 60 0 - - 0 2216 Coos Bay 676 __ 0 _ _ 0 676 Total 696 2168 63 21 1000 10 22 3080 * Medford District has planted a total of 3856 acres (25% sugar pine) with white pine blister rust resistant sugar pine The progress of reforestation with improved stock has been very slow in the past. Starting from FY 1986 we will see more acres planted with improved stock. In addition to the 1985 improved seed production. districts also have 924 pounds of seed collected from previous years in seed banks . Seed Collected From Salem Eugene Roseburg Medford Coos Bay Total 1 . Tested parent trees DF 0 110 39 8 153 310 2 . Homing orchard DF 77 88 0 0 0 165 3. Disease resistant SP 0 - 0 196 0 196 WWP 0 - 0 6 0 6 4 . Selected trees DF 224 - - - - 224 NF 23 _ _ _ __ 23 Total 324 198 39 210 153 924 CKirr Table 11. 1985 DOUGLAS-FIR SEED PRODUCTION AT THE HORNING SEED ORCHARD Breeding Unit Bushels* Pounds Salem EuRene RoseburR Medford Coos Bay B 10 1 t. B 11 196 68 68 B 12 80 28 28 B 13 83 29 29 B 14 209 73 51 22 B 15 94 33 3 30 B 16 69 24 24 B 17 55 19 19 B 18 17 6 2 4 B 20 3 1 1 0 B 30 147 51 51 B 31 8 3 3 B 32 12 4 4 B 33 108 38 38 B 34 113 40 40 B 35 77 27 27 B 36 2 1 1 B 37 0 0 B 38 10 3 3 B 40 14 5 4 1 B 41 3 1 1 0 Total 1301 454 221 118 37 1 77 * Cone lots are being processed at the Homing seed orchard, and seed yield is about 0.35 pounds per bushel of cones. 21 10. CULTURAL TREATMENT OF SELECTED TREES Genetically improved seed for the next 10 years will come from parent trees that have been proved superior in growth rate. Since natural cone crops occur once every 3 to 5 years , the amount of seed produced cannot meet our reforestation program needs. Therefore, it is desirable to enhance cone and seed production of superior parent trees through cultural treatments such as thinning of competing trees, fertilizer application to parent trees or a combination of both. Insecticide application and cone bag are also used on parent trees to increase seed yield. In FY 1985, districts treated 740 Douglas-fir parent trees, and to date 2350 parent trees have been treated: Thinned Fertilized Thin. & Fert. All Treatment District 1985 To Date 1985 To Date 1985 To Date 1985 To Date Salem 0 28 0 15 0 206 0 249 Eugene 0 3 80 255 0 358 80 616 Roseburg 163 246 75 275 75 75 313 596 Medford 0 0 0 0 0 136 0 136 Coos Bay 26 185 88 118 233 450 347 753 Total 189 462 243 663 308 1225 740 2350 In addition to the above treatments, Medford District treated 90 Douglas-fir parent trees with insecticide and placed 94 cone bags on sugar pine cones in FY 1985. I; 4 22 11. WHITE PIME BLISTER RUST DISEASE COtTTROL White pine blister rust disease control is a special project at the Salem, Roseburg and Medford districts. Starting from the early 1970s, the Bureau's white pine blister rust control activities are partially funded with USES, Insect and Disease Control funds. The fund is used in sugar pine and western white pine candidate tree selection, cone collection, controlled- pollination and hazard mapping. Other activities such as sugar pine field test plantation establishment, reforestation cone collection, seed orchard development and rust resistance screening are funded by the Bureau's Forest Development budget. The FY 1985 accomplishments at the Medford District were: Activities Total - Risk rating 108 stands - Controlled-pollination 12 crosses - Pollen collection 8 trees - Scion collection 19 trees - Cone collection 74 trees - Seed production 80 pounds - Test sites maintained 7 sites - Resistant trees polestepped 103 trees Salem District collected cones from 65 sugar pine and 44 western white pine candidate trees. These seed lots were sent to USFS, Dorena Tree Improvement Center for white pine blister rust resistance screening. Roseburg District had completed all activities funded by USFS, Insect and Disease Control in FY 1984 . 23 12. OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS Other FY 1985 accomplishments by districts are too numerous to report in total. Example given below were provided by the Medford District: - Survival surveys were done on 13 progeny test plantations for replacing mortality. Empty positions were planted with family trees or fillers. - Hand cutting of brush was done on nine progeny test plantations - Paper mulch and shade cards were used on four progeny test plantations. - One of the fenced sites included buried hardware cloth for a gopher barrier. - Seven broadcast bums were successful but site sites planned for burning were delayed by weather and seedlings will have to be transplanted for a year. - Twenty-three Douglas-fir drought stress sites were prepared for the final planting in spring of 1986. - Fifty-four drought stress sites were surveyed for survival. - Tops of tall selected trees in Quail Creek BZ-21 field orchard were pruned to control height. - Grafts of compatible rootstock study for Provolt seed orchard were tended. Grafts will be excised in fall of 1986 for determination of incompatability symptoms. ENO, /->S