Shortleaf Pine: Guidance for Seed Transfer Within the Eastern United States

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) is a shade-intolerant conifer tree native to forests across the Eastern United States, extending from east Texas to New Jersey. Shortleaf pine has declined sharply in abundance during the last several decades due to species conversion, reduced fire frequency, and competition with encroaching broadleaf trees. Genetic diversity of the species is high due to high seed dispersal and long-distance pollen dispersals maintaining low population structure across the species’ range. Shortleaf pine can hybridize with loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), which could increase if climatic shifts begin to synchronize pollen dispersal and receptivity of the two species. Fire is an important component of shortleaf pine ecosystems and helps to reduce hardwood and pine competition, including loblolly pine hybrids. Local seed sources are generally best in far northern and southern areas of the species’ range. In central and northern areas, seed transfer from sites that are warmer by 7 and 5 °F (3.9 and 2.8 °C) average annual minimum temperature, respectively, may have increased growth relative to local sources. Shortleaf pine is highly susceptible to southern pine beetle but is relatively resistant to fusiform rust disease. Shortleaf pine is likely to persist, or expand northward, in the future because of its high tolerance to drought and fire.

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Author(s): Carolyn C. Pike, C. Dana Nelson

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 66, Number 2 (2023)

Volume: 66

Number: 2