Over the past 10 years in the southern US, deployment of full-sib families has gained prominence relative to traditional improved loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L) seedling stock such as open-pollinated families or seed orchard mixes.
To produce controlled cross seed, a pollination bag must be used to isolate female strobili from outside pollen contamination, and a known pollen is applied at time of maximum female strobilus receptivity. In the spring of 2014, the members and staff of the NC State University Cooperative Tree Improvement Program designed and installed a study to compare four pollination bag prototypes. Bags from PBS International were compared to the industry-standard Lawson pollination bag with and without a support wire. Open-pollinated female strobili were also added for comparisons. Based on preliminary results from the 2014 installation, another round of prototype testing was established in the spring of 2015 and spring of 2017.
The main objective of this study was to compare conelet and cone survival of these bags to the industry standard Lawson pollination bag and recommend the most efficient bag for producing controlled cross loblolly pine seed.
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