Missouri walnut and oak forest owners will benefit greatly from a new forestry program at Purdue University. The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center officially opened its doors last November.
The new center is a cooperative effort by Purdue, the Forest Service and private forest industry, including the Walnut Council International. Its staff will focus on hardwood tree improvement, specifically oak and walnut, and forest regeneration issues.
Northern red oak is one of the most important economic species in the Midwestern forest industry. Poor seedling regeneration and multiple environmental and pathogenic stresses on older stands have led to oak decline and heavy losses of red oak.
"In the Midwest, our efforts will result in more productive hardwood forests on lands that are being reforested from past agricultural uses. Trees will grow faster to overcome deer browse, grow straighter, have better wood quality traits (such as wood color) and may resist economically important insect pests," says Charles Michler, the center's new project leader.
Initial research projects will place emphasis on four areas: (1) improved hardwood genetics; (2) micropropagation techniques; (3) molecular biotechnology; (4) restoration of natural forest.
Funding comes from the Forest Service ($500,000) and Purdue ($250,000) annually. A National Science Foundation grant to Purdue for $1.5 million will allow the center to work on specialized gene sequencing equipment.
Sen. Richard Lugar, of Indiana, was instrumental in securing funding for the center. (Condensed from the Walnut Council Bulletin.)