Forest management in approved seed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) for the production of high-quality reproductive material

Forest management in approved seed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) for the production of high-quality reproductive material

Background and Objective

Reproductive material with high genetic diversity and growth potential is required to establish forest regeneration with the ability to adapt to the changing climate. Currently, the management of forest seed stands is typically not focused on high-quality seeds, but rather on timber yield. Best growing trees are removed, while individuals with lower productivity and quality remain for seed production. This problem could be ameliorated by a selective thinning that will retain the most suitable trees to produce seeds for the next generation.
We will study the consequences of a selective reduction of population size and density in an approved seed stand of beech in comparison to a reference population by analysing the mating system and genetic diversity across two generations with DNA markers.
The Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics will carry out the project together with the forest district Oerrel in Lower Saxony (fsb Oerrel). The Northwest German Forest Research Institute (Department Forest Growth) will contribute an economic evaluation. The proposed project aims at the development of policy recommendations to manage approved forest seed stands for the production of high-quality seeds.

Approach

Working package 1 comprises all field work in the approved seed stand, including selection of trees for seed harvest, seed collection, collection of samples for genotyping, selective thinning. The working package 2 covers all genetic analyses, including the characterisations of parent and progeny generation with DNA markers, and the population genetic data evaluation and modelling of mating systems. Working package 3 is focused on progeny testing in the nursery and the evaluation of phenotypic traits. Working package 4 will contribute economic estimates of different management variants. Working package 5 aims to comprehensively summarize all gained results and to drive conclusions for forest management.

Data and Methods

Thünen-Contact

• Liesebach, Heike Institute of Forest Genetics

Involved Thünen-Partners

• Enkisch, Hannelore Institute of Forest Genetics
• Eusemann, Pascal Institute of Forest Genetics
• Liesebach, Mirko Institute of Forest Genetics

Involved external Thünen-Partners

• Niedersächsische Landesforsten, Forstamt Oerrel, Forstsaatgutberatungsstelle
  (Oerrel, Deutschland)
• Nordwestdeutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt - Abteilung Waldwachstum
  (Göttingen, Deutschland)

Funding Body

• Federal Ministry of Food und Agriculture (BMEL)
  (national, öffentlich)

Duration

10.2014 - 12.2017

More Information

Projekt type:
Project funding number: 28W-B-4-042-01
Funding program: Waldklimafonds (Programmbestandteil des Sondervermögens Energie- und Klimafonds)
Project status: finished

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