In 1956, the NC State University Cooperative Tree Improvement Program was founded to enhance the productivity and resilience of planted forests in the southern US. To achieve this goal, we follow a process of breeding, field testing, and selection.
The very best trees are used as the parents of the next generation. These superior trees are intermated through control-pollination. This technique consists of transferring pollen from one tree to the receptive female reproductive organs of another tree, while excluding all other pollen through the use of a pollination bag. This ensures the resulting progeny receive genes from each of two known parent trees.
The progeny are tested across numerous field sites using a rigorous experimental design. Superior individuals are identified based on productivity, stem form and disease resistance. These elite individuals are grafted into breeding orchards, and a new cycle ensues, thereby producing the next cycle of improved material. We are excited to have begun the 5th Cycle of breeding, placing our Cooperative among the most advanced tree breeding programs in the world.
$50-$300 per acre net present value by simply planting the best genotypes. That is an estimated $1.9 billion to landowners in the Southeast US.
1170 tons of improved pine seed produced by Cooperative members, enough seed to plant over 28 billion seedlings over the last 63 years
Over 400 peer reviewed publications and 979 scientific articles published
Over 17 million acres reforested with genetically improved seedlings from Cooperative members
60% of the regeneration in the southern US is from genetically improved loblolly pine originating from the NCSU Tree Improvement Program
250+ professionals graduated from NCSU via the Cooperative