Controlled mass pollination (CMP) is one way to increase genetic gains from traditional wind-pollinated seed orchards. Methodology is under development by several forestry companies in the southern USA. Costs of CMP depend on the efficient installation, pollination, and removal of inexpensive paper bags. Even in pilot-scale studies these costs seem reasonable. Net present values from CMP in a sample of sixty-seven loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seed orchards in the Western Gulf Forest Tree Improvement Program are conservatively expected to average $108 per acre of plantation established with seedlings from CMP among the best six parents in each of five breeding regions and $154 per acre for CMP among the best pair of parents in each breeding region. Key words: supplemental mass pollination, expected genetic gains, pollen contamination

No abstract

Flowering in conifer seed orchards may be sporadic and insufficient to meet reforestation needs at early ages. Consequently, considerable effort has been made to develop cultural treatments to enhance flowering in operational seed orchards. For a number of species, flower-promoting technology is well-defined. This study evaluated two known technologies, currently in use for other species, for flower-promoting effects in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). A replicated experiment was installed in a 10-year-old, second-generation loblolly pine seed orchard at Lyons, GA. Overlapping, saw-cut girdles and stem-injected GA4/7 were applied alone, and in combination, to main boles of ramets of four clones. Timing of treatments was evaluated using four treatment dates. All treatments significantly enhanced female flower production, relative to controls, although girdling was clearly the most effective single treatment. There was no treatment effect on pollen production. Timing of treatment is important but may require evaluation on a site-by-site basis. Tree health 1 year after treatment was excellent, although clonal sensitivity to some treatments was noted. Use of flower stimulation techniques is recommended, particularly for younger loblolly pine orchards. South J. Appl. For. 15(1):44-50.

No abstract

A cyclone pollinator developed by the U.S. Forest Service was compared with a standard syringe pollinator currently used in many southern tree improvement programs. The average seed yields per cone were increased from 58 filled seed per cone with the syringe pollinator to 74 per cone with the cyclone pollinator. An increased quantity of pollen for each of the pollinators generally produced increased seed yields. The average seed efficiency from cyclone pollinations was 48 percent compared with 38 percent for syringe pollinations. In contrast, wind-pollinated control cones had 115 filled seed per cone and a seed efficiency of 75 percent.