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At one major research site, researchers
observe growing traits and characteristics of
various species to determine how hardwood
trees with different genetics perform in the Midwest climate. It’s part of the Hardwood Tree
Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC),
a collaboration between the FNR Department
and the U.S. Forest Service.
The site is approximately 10 acres with 680
trees planted to the acre. Carlson and Beheler
planted many of the thousands of trees, beginning in 2002. “This entire area was corn and bean
fields,” Beheler says. “We know every single tree
planted here and where the seed came from. We
have every tree mapped. We know exactly how
fast they are growing and what their hardwood
quality is.”
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The HTIRC tree plantings reveal insights
about tree improvement and forest health. One
red oak tree-planting site covers a wide range of
North American seed sources from Canada to
Tennessee. Another planting contains seedlings
of select cherry trees, from Indiana to Pennsylvania, to test their performance and quality
characteristics. A number of stands contain butternut, a tree native to Indiana and once commonplace that’s now threatened by butternut
canker, a fungal disease. Once a tree is infected,
it’s difficult to halt the spread of the disease.
By identifying trees with possible resistance,
then propagating, preserving, and testing them
further, researchers hope to establish disease-resistant, high-quality varietals that someday could be restored to the landscape.
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