National Seed LaboratoryNational Seed Laboratory

USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service National Center for Seed TechnologyNational Center for Seed Technology National MissionNational Mission

• All native plantsAll native plants• Protocol development: germ, clean, store Protocol development: germ, clean, store

seedsseeds• Tech transfer: training, handbooks, individualTech transfer: training, handbooks, individual• Seed testing on a fee-for-service basisSeed testing on a fee-for-service basis• Germplasm conservation and research seed Germplasm conservation and research seed

distributiondistribution

NSL Germplasm ConservationNSL Germplasm Conservation

For FS and FS cooperatorsFor FS and FS cooperators Cooperating w/ ARSCooperating w/ ARS

• Fort Collins NCGRP security backupFort Collins NCGRP security backup• Capacity to enter accessions into GRIN Capacity to enter accessions into GRIN

(FSNS numbers are Forest Service)(FSNS numbers are Forest Service)• Wrote FS ash collection plan Wrote FS ash collection plan

cooperatively with the Ames PI stationcooperatively with the Ames PI station• Sharing ash seed and resources Sharing ash seed and resources

NSL FactsNSL Facts

Two operational locationsTwo operational locations• Dry Branch GADry Branch GA• Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration

Center at Purdue W. Lafayette, IN is an Center at Purdue W. Lafayette, IN is an additional locationadditional location

Second base of operations for midwestSecond base of operations for midwest Gives NSL better cooperation with FS and university Gives NSL better cooperation with FS and university

geneticsgenetics As a coop service oriented facility, NSL has As a coop service oriented facility, NSL has

many contacts in forestry and many contacts in forestry and conservation agencies and organizations.conservation agencies and organizations.

Ash Germplasm CollectionsAsh Germplasm Collections 2006 2006

• start, learned how to do it start, learned how to do it • fair to poor seed year: 20 lots collectedfair to poor seed year: 20 lots collected• Began x-raying seed for Rose Lake PMCBegan x-raying seed for Rose Lake PMC• Drafted seed collection planDrafted seed collection plan

2007 2007 • almost no seed producedalmost no seed produced• Some areas had seed: 60 lots collectedSome areas had seed: 60 lots collected

20082008• phenomenal seed year: 420+ seed lotsphenomenal seed year: 420+ seed lots• Techniques are pretty refined nowTechniques are pretty refined now• Cooperative efforts gain tractionCooperative efforts gain traction

FS Fraxinus Collection PlanFS Fraxinus Collection Plan

Focused: EAB infestations (EAB viewer)Focused: EAB infestations (EAB viewer) Defined seed collection areas (2 to Defined seed collection areas (2 to

several counties)several counties)• Derived from EAB viewer, Omernik III Derived from EAB viewer, Omernik III

regions, species range mapsregions, species range maps• Mostly a way to assign and track Mostly a way to assign and track

collectionscollections• Collections were to more or less be spread Collections were to more or less be spread

across collection areaacross collection area Worked with Ames PI station to writeWorked with Ames PI station to write

FS Fraxinus Collection PlanFS Fraxinus Collection Plan

Wild trees, some provision for urban Wild trees, some provision for urban collections collections

No selection for phenotypeNo selection for phenotype Healthy tree but could be EAB Healthy tree but could be EAB

attackedattacked Quantity to collectQuantity to collect

• Min: about 1 quart of seed (1 to 2 inches Min: about 1 quart of seed (1 to 2 inches of seed on bottom of grocery sack)of seed on bottom of grocery sack)

• Max: Full grocery sack Max: Full grocery sack

FS Fraxinus Collection PlanFS Fraxinus Collection Plan

Evaluate seed for weevils – at least 50% Evaluate seed for weevils – at least 50% goodgood

Voucher specimensVoucher specimens• Leaf if available (put in data sheet/envelope)Leaf if available (put in data sheet/envelope)• Twig sample (placed in the bag w/ the seeds)Twig sample (placed in the bag w/ the seeds)• Seeds cluster if possible (put in bag)Seeds cluster if possible (put in bag)• PhotosPhotos

Close up of barkClose up of bark Whole treeWhole tree

Slide the leaf into the envelope diagonally making sure that all the leaflets are flat and not folded over on themselves. This will allow the leaf to dry flat and to be more easily identifiable.

Two photos are taken of each tree. One is of the trunk and one is of the full tree. Take the photo of the trunk first. Before photographing the trunk, pin the data sheet to the tree so that the lot number is clearly visible, but off to the bottom in order to show as much of the trunk as possible. Frame both photos vertically as shown here. Taking the photos in this order will ensure the photos can be matched to the correct seed lots.

Seed lot number

FS Fraxinus Collection PlanFS Fraxinus Collection Plan

Make seeds available for research and Make seeds available for research and restorationrestoration

Seek out researchers to collaborate withSeek out researchers to collaborate with NSL will distributeNSL will distribute

• Collecting enough seed to make sure supplies Collecting enough seed to make sure supplies will be sufficient (quart, full bags)will be sufficient (quart, full bags)

• Seed increase possible, but a long term projectSeed increase possible, but a long term project Objective is the restoration of ash to Objective is the restoration of ash to

landscapelandscape

2006 Cooperative Efforts2006 Cooperative Efforts

Attempted to recruit seed collectors Attempted to recruit seed collectors from the general publicfrom the general public• Put together kits with all needed Put together kits with all needed

supplies and made up a training ppsupplies and made up a training pp• Did outreach through extension service Did outreach through extension service

at Purdue – master gardenersat Purdue – master gardeners• Distributed about 12 kits but received Distributed about 12 kits but received

no seeds --- needed a more direct no seeds --- needed a more direct approachapproach

2008 Cooperative Collections2008 Cooperative Collections Focused on special groups to collect seedsFocused on special groups to collect seeds Received $37M from Forest Health DirectorReceived $37M from Forest Health Director

• Ash identified as one of 4 top priority Ash identified as one of 4 top priority species/species groups to be targeted for species/species groups to be targeted for conservation because of invasive pathogen or conservation because of invasive pathogen or pestpest

• Allowed us to buy supplies for our collectorsAllowed us to buy supplies for our collectors• Most $$ taken to fight wild fires before we Most $$ taken to fight wild fires before we

could get it granted to cooperators for travelcould get it granted to cooperators for travel• Money was restored so we may grant it this Money was restored so we may grant it this

year but money is also needed to clean the year but money is also needed to clean the 2008 seeds.2008 seeds.

2008 Cooperative Collections2008 Cooperative Collections 20 cooperating entities20 cooperating entities

• 2 Arboreta: 2 Arboreta: HoldenHolden, Stranahan, Stranahan• 3 Metro parks in Dayton & Cleveland OH3 Metro parks in Dayton & Cleveland OH• 4 Universities: Kent State, Ohio State, Purdue, 4 Universities: Kent State, Ohio State, Purdue,

U MN, U MN, • 3 DNR: PA, IN, OH (urban programs)3 DNR: PA, IN, OH (urban programs)• 1 TNC: Blue River Project, IN1 TNC: Blue River Project, IN• 2 Hoosier and Chippewa National Forest2 Hoosier and Chippewa National Forest• 1 Bloomington IN Parks and Recreation1 Bloomington IN Parks and Recreation• 2 Timber companies, 1 private consultants2 Timber companies, 1 private consultants• 2 FS Northern Research Station (HTIRC at 2 FS Northern Research Station (HTIRC at

Purdue, Delaware OH)Purdue, Delaware OH)

2008 Cooperative Collections2008 Cooperative Collections

Conducted 6 workshops (4 in OH, 1 Conducted 6 workshops (4 in OH, 1 IN, 1 MN) with the cooperatorsIN, 1 MN) with the cooperators

This focused effort gave a much This focused effort gave a much better result than trying to collect better result than trying to collect from the general public.from the general public.

Demonstrated that there are well Demonstrated that there are well qualified willing cooperators who with qualified willing cooperators who with a little more financial support could a little more financial support could do much more.do much more.

Other FS Ash Conservation EffortsOther FS Ash Conservation Efforts

National Forest System has its own plan to preserve National Forest System has its own plan to preserve germplasm from NF in the North.germplasm from NF in the North.• 100 trees per forest per species100 trees per forest per species• Submit to the NPGS through the NSL planSubmit to the NPGS through the NSL plan

Kim Steiner at Penn State has been given a grant to assess Kim Steiner at Penn State has been given a grant to assess the condition and meaure the 30 year old white and green the condition and meaure the 30 year old white and green ash provenance tests.ash provenance tests.

March 2010 HTIRC at Purdue will host a conference on the March 2010 HTIRC at Purdue will host a conference on the ash resourceash resource• Document and highlight the importance of the ash resourceDocument and highlight the importance of the ash resource• Hopefully develop support for breeding and restoration workHopefully develop support for breeding and restoration work

The last two items above are funded by grants from FH The last two items above are funded by grants from FH

Needs - technicalNeeds - technical

Assess genetic variation to guide future Assess genetic variation to guide future collections - when do we have enough collections - when do we have enough sources collected?sources collected? Provenance work (funded)Provenance work (funded) Molecular work to describe gene flow, Molecular work to describe gene flow,

outcrossing patterns, level of variability at the outcrossing patterns, level of variability at the gene level (needs more funding)gene level (needs more funding)

Nursery, breeding, transgenic, and seed Nursery, breeding, transgenic, and seed orchard research (needed for restoration orchard research (needed for restoration work)work)

ID sources of EAB resistanceID sources of EAB resistance

Needs – Needs – Policy/Financial/AdminstrativePolicy/Financial/Adminstrative

Need agency leadership support to go beyond the Need agency leadership support to go beyond the grass roots effortsgrass roots efforts

Need to match up agency resourcesNeed to match up agency resources NSL contributes NSL contributes

Seed testing facilities, expertiseSeed testing facilities, expertise Conducting workshopsConducting workshops Development of techniquesDevelopment of techniques Network of cooperatorsNetwork of cooperators Seed storage and distribution facilitiesSeed storage and distribution facilities

How do the various plans fit together?How do the various plans fit together? How do we as a group engage cooperators?How do we as a group engage cooperators? What specific objectives does each agency have?What specific objectives does each agency have? Can we form a unified budget for this project?Can we form a unified budget for this project?