1998 Status Report Tree improvement and genetics activities in the Northern, Intermountain and Rocky Mountain Regions, are performed under the umbrella of a Shared Services Memorandum of Understanding since FY95. Genetics services are provided by Mary Frances Mahalovich, Regional Geneticist, Moscow Idaho. Each year approximately 200 western white pine families complete a four-year rust screening at the Coeur d'Alene Nursery. Data are collected and analyzed for selecting 20 elite families or 200 seedlings based on seven, blister rust resistant mechanisms. Table 7 summarizes national forest land planted with improved seedlings from blister rust resistant white pine seed orchards.
Progress is on-going.
Data from Region 1 and Gerald Rehfeldt, RMRS, Moscow, Idaho were used to develop a western larch seed transfer expert system for both Regions 1 and 4, with some participating members in the Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative and the Colville and Okanogan NFs in Region 6. The most activity was noted in ponderosa pine. Scion were collected from genetic tests on the Payette NF and were grafted at the Couer d'Alene Nursery. Successful grafts are targeted for outplanting at the Salmon River Seed Orchard, Nez Perce NF in spring 1999. Efforts are ongoing for continued development of these seed orchards as well as five clone banks, to secure a reliable cone crop and to prevent further losses of genetic resources in the field due to insect and disease problems, catastrophic fire, and vandalism in genetic tests.