White Spruce: Guidance for Seed Transfer Within the Eastern United States
White spruce is a boreal conifer with a transcontinental range and intermediate shade tolerance that thrives in mixed stands. The species has high genetic variation, low population structure, and can tolerate moderate transfer distances with minimal maladaptation effects. White spruce has a tendency to break bud early in the spring and, as such, is susceptible to damage from early spring frosts. Spruce budworm is the most significant pest of white spruce. Seed collection areas should be developed from sources with a range of budbreak times and growth habits to maximize genetic diversity. White spruce is a good candidate for assisted migration because it is expected to experience a range shift, is generally unpalatable to browse from white-tailed deer, and can be transferred long distances with a low probability of maladaptation.
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Author(s): Carolyn C. Pike
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 64, Number 2 (2021)
Volume: 64
Number: 2