Synopsis

Chal Landgren, Extension Christmas Tree Specialist at Oregon State University, helps America get into the festive spirit each year with his expertise in breeding, propagating and growing these iconic trees.

In this episode of Plant Breeding Stories, Chal explains the challenges of producing beautiful Christmas trees each year, from the difficulties of harvesting in remote locations to the impact of recent droughts and extreme temperatures. We also discuss what makes a good tree, the species – current and future – we can look forward to decorating each year, and where new germplasm comes from to expand the breeding programme. You’ll never look at your Christmas tree in the same way again!