Conservation of forest resources through improved seed quality and seedling stress resilience in conifers

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Our project brings together a multidisciplinary group of leading seed and stress research biologists, along with the BC Ministry of Forests, Canadian Forest Service, and industrial partners to tackle two major current challenges: (1) lack of sufficient and healthy seeds and seedlings to fight the climate-change induced decline of valuable native conifer species, and (2) loss of germination capacity during storage of seeds due to their damage during handling and processing. 1. Climate change and the associated changes in natural environments have led to dramatic declines in several conifer species, and many more are predicted to be affected in the future. Two species that have been very negatively affected are yellow cypress and whitebark pine. Yellow cypress is a native conifer of great economic and cultural importance; whitebark pine is an important yet endangered keystone species of the timberline that provides nutrition and refuge for wildlife from bears to birds, and prevents soil erosion. These two high elevation species are dying due to climate-change stresses including freezing, drought, and susceptibility to pathogens and insect herbivores. The conservation and restoration of these two valuable species requires reliable seed production and strong healthy seedlings that can be used for reforestation. Our project uses state-of-the-art technologies, including non-destructive imaging and other methods to visualize water flux and profiles of stress-protective metabolites, to create a comprehensive knowledge base of environmental influences on seed-to-seedling regeneration and its connection to stress hardiness. We focus on how the environment during earlier seed maturation influences the later 'stress resilience' of the seedling - its ability to withstand stresses such as cold, drought and pathogens. 2. Other conifer species of economical and ecological importance, such as the true-firs, western red cedar, and hemlocks, produce seeds in sufficient quantity, but seed banks face challenges because the seeds contain resin vesicles in their seed coats that are easily damaged during preparation for storage. This damage leads to poor seed longevity and reduced germination; the underlying causes are studied so that losses of seeds are prevented.