The Forum has existed four months without a contribution, so I break the ice. The approaching low input breeding conference is a motive to raise a matter in the low end of the intensity scale.
Plants in Sweden produced today origin from:
clones 0%;
seed orchards 60%;
stands 40%.
Marginally litle origin from orchards where the clones were selected based on relevant field testing.
Forest geneticists and breeders usually focus on discussing how fancy new seed orchards or clonal propagation programs can be launched, but have fewer if any thoughts about how the material used today or in the near future can be improved.
The main part of Swedish stand collected seeds come from felled stands in areas approved as region of provenance. There are difficulties to fit the felling of stands to seed needs. The delimitations as well as the efficiency in central identification of "good areas where seed collection is approved" is questioned and appear more constraining than the small genetic gain predicted seems to justify.
I am asked by the Swedish Forest Authority to suggest something.
What should I suggest?
Dag Lindgren
