Effects of Frequency of Chemical Weed Control on Growth and Quality of Christmas Trees1

1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Brown ◽  
Martin A. Spetich ◽  
Randall B. Heiligmann
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Foliage Density ◽  
Tree Quality ◽  
Christmas Tree Species

Abstract Effective weed control is essential to the production of high-quality Christmas trees on most planting sites. Many growers use herbicides applied along rows of trees, in combination with mowing between rows, to control competing grasses and broadleaved weeds. This study evaluated one-time, biannual, and annual applications of herbicide during a 6-year period on growth and quality of different Christmas tree species planted on moderately dry and moist planting sites. Increased height growth from more frequent applications was limited primarily to the drier site, and even on that site rotation length would have been reduced by only 1 year. Christmas tree quality, as reflected by foliage density and tree weights, generally improved on both areas as herbicides were applied more frequently. Colorado spruce, Douglas-fir, and Fraser fir benefited more than Scotch and white pines. North. J. Appl. For. 6:15-17, March 1989.

scholarly journals Phytophthora abietivora, A New Species Isolated from Diseased Christmas Trees in Connecticut, U.S.A.

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3057-3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Wei Li ◽  
Neil P. Schultes ◽  
James A. LaMondia ◽  
Richard S. Cowles
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
The World ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
A New Species

A number of fir species (Abies) are produced as Christmas trees around the world. In particular, Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) is popular as it yields high-quality Christmas trees in temperate North America and Europe. A Phytophthora sp. causing root rot on Fraser fir was isolated from a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut, U.S.A., and found to be new to science according to morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis using multilocus DNA sequences from ITS, Cox1, β-Tub, Nadh1, and Hsp90 loci. Thus, it was described and illustrated as Phytophthora abietivora. An informative Koch’s postulates test revealed that P. abietivora was the pathogen causing root rot of Fraser fir.

scholarly journals Relationship of U.S. Department of Agriculture Grades to the Value of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger J. Arnold ◽  
J.B. Jett ◽  
William T. Huxster
Keyword(s):  
Quality Index ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Quality Certification ◽  
Tree Quality ◽  
Relationship Of

Wholesale values, retail values of five eastern United States lots, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Christmas-tree grades, and measurements of various growth and quality traits were obtained on ≥1400 Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] (8 years old) Christmas trees. Retail lot values were similar, but average retail value correlated poorly with wholesale value within merchandising height classes. For each of the current wholesale categories (defined by the combination of 30.5-cm interval height classes and USDA grades), average values ranged widely. Some cull-grade trees, which would be unmerchantable according to USDA standards, had moderate retail value. Also, the retail mean of any one wholesale category generally was not significantly different from that of adjacent categories. Some tree quality defects that have equal impact on USDA grade, and consequently wholesale value, differed widely in their effect on retail values. This study indicates that current USDA Christmas-tree grade standards do not adequately differentiate Fraser fir trees with respect to their retail value. We propose a new method of Christmas-tree quality certification that involves computed Christmas-tree quality index values that offer greater accuracy in describing quality with respect to retail value.

Bionomics of the pine needle scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an emerging pest in Christmas tree (Pinaceae) plantations in southern Québec, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Frdéric Guay ◽  
Amy Bernier-Desmarais ◽  
Jean-François Doherty ◽  
Conrad Cloutier
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Pine Needle ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
The Status

AbstractThe pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), has the status of an emerging pest in Christmas tree (Pinaceae) plantations in Québec, Canada. The scale is not known to cause any significant damage yet and is not generally monitored by growers. However, it can be an obstacle for exportation to Christmas tree markets where scale insects are strictly regulated. In this study, we describe its life cycle in Christmas tree plantations in southern Québec. We confirm the presence of both parthenogenetic and sexual forms of the scale on Fraser fir Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poiret (Pinaceae) grown as Christmas trees, and of parasitoid and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) specialists that could contribute to its control.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and Wild Grape (Vitisspp.) Control in Fraser Fir

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Richardson ◽  
Michael W. Marshall ◽  
Robert E. Uhlig ◽  
Bernard H. Zandstra
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Wild Grape ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Parthenocissus Quinquefolia ◽  
Christmas Tree Species

Virginia creeper and wild grape are troublesome perennial vines that often infest Christmas tree plantations. Field studies were conducted to evaluate Fraser fir injury and Virginia creeper and wild grape control with directed applications of triclopyr (1,680 g ai/ha) alone and in combination with 2,4-D (1,120 g ai/ha), clopyralid (280 g ai/ha), and halosulfuron (36 g ai/ha). Additional treatments included 2,4-D, clopyralid, glyphosate (1,120 g ai/ha), halosulfuron, hexazinone (560 g ai/ha), mesotrione (105 g ai/ha), and sulfometuron (71 g ai/ha) applied alone; and a mixture of hexazinone plus mesotrione. In the triclopyr-containing treatments, Fraser fir injury ranged from 6 to 13% at 1 mo after treatment (MAT) and was 4 to 8% at 11 MAT. Leader growth was not impacted by the herbicide treatments. At 11 MAT, all triclopyr-containing treatments controlled Virginia creeper 93 to 98% and wild grape 98 to 100%, which was greater than the control observed with glyphosate at 63 and 59%, respectively. Virginia creeper and wild grape control with 2,4-D was 88 to 90%. Clopyralid, halosulfuron, hexazinone, hexazinone plus mesotrione, mesotrione, and sulfometuron provided less than 66% control of both perennial vines. Directed applications of triclopyr-containing treatments or 2,4-D were effective management tools for selective removal of wild grape and Virginia creeper from Fraser fir Christmas tree plantations. Additional research is needed on the potential sensitivity of other commonly grown Christmas tree species to triclopyr-containing treatments.

scholarly journals Shearing Date Affects Growth and Quality of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1020-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Scott A. Derby
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Proximal Portion ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Future Leaders ◽  
Total Tree

Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] Christmas trees were sheared once annually over 4 years on dates ranging from July to March. Shearing reduced total tree growth. Trees sheared in July and August had the highest quality and retail value. Early shearing (July and August) yielded fewer leaders, longer leaders, and 35% to 66% more internodal branches on the leader, compared to later shearing (September through March). Early shearing also yielded more second-order laterals, followed by greater elongation of those laterals. Shearing late into the fall yielded progressively fewer branches, with the minimum in October. Shearing in March gave a little better results than October, but neither date was as good as July or August. In one experiment, two types of residual tip buds (bubble and whisker) were compared as future leaders. Differences in length and straightness of leaders derived from whisker and bubble buds were considered negligible in commercial shearing practice. The ratio of adaxial and abaxial buds on the proximal portion of the leader was about 1:1, and showed little change with shearing date. Distance from the base of the leader to the first abaxial branch also showed little variation among shearing dates.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation in Early Growth and Bud Production among Natural Populations of Fraser Fir

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Emerson ◽  
John Frampton ◽  
Steven E. McKeand
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Great Smoky Mountains ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Tree Quality ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Source Site ◽  
Tree Production

A series of open-pollinated progeny tests of Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] was analyzed to determine natural variation among six geographic seed sources and to estimate genetic parameters for traits important in Christmas tree production. Highly significant differences were found among seed sources and families within sources (P ≤ 0.0001) for height after 4 years in the field. The individual-tree within-population heritability values for the traits measured in Year 4 ranged from 0 to 0.44, with height having the highest heritability, overall tree quality having a heritability of 0.14, and bud and branching traits having varying heritabilities. Heritability values for height at age 4 varied greatly among the six sources, from 0.15 for the Black Mountains to 0.67 for the Great Smoky Mountains. Highly significant seed source × site interactions as well as family within source × site interactions existed for height. Stability variance analysis, after removing the environmental heterogeneity, showed significant instability across the test sites for two of the six seed sources for height after 4 years, and some rank changes occurred. The high heritability values for height indicate that economically important genetic gains can be made in Fraser fir for Christmas tree production because of the importance of height in determining Christmas tree value.

scholarly journals Postharvest Drying of Leyland Cypress, Eastern Red Cedar, and Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1427-1428 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Layne K. Snelling
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Juniperus Virginiana ◽  
Pressure Potential ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Eastern Red Cedar ◽  
Red Cedar ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Xylem Pressure Potential ◽  
Better Than

Postharvest drying of Leyland cypress [× Cupressocyparis leylandii (A.B. Jacks. & Dallim.)] branches was intermediate between eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) and Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] in two laboratory experiments. Leyland cypress rehydrated without adverse effect until xylem pressure potential reached –4.0 to –5.0 MPa (shoot moisture content = 60% to 65%). For branches continuously maintained in water, Fraser fir and Leyland cypress kept equally well over 4 weeks of display, but Leyland cypress lasted longer than Fraser fir over 8 weeks. Postharvest keeping quality of Leyland cypress and Fraser fir was better than that of eastern red cedar.

Shearing is a Necessary Cultural Practice for Virginia Pine Christmas Tree Production

1978 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 135-136
Author(s):  
Shih-Chang Hu ◽  
Conrad W. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Growing Season ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
State University ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Third ◽  
Louisiana State University ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
Proper Timing ◽  
Tree Production

Abstract The proper timing and methodology for shearing Virginia pine Christmas trees have been studied since 1967 at Louisiana State University. Results indicate two shearings per growing season are needed from the third growing season in order to produce a large number of high-quality Christmas trees. Should the grower not be able to shear the trees twice a year, a single shearing in April is the best alternative for maximizing the number of salable trees.

scholarly journals Propagation of Fraser Fir

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank A. Blazich ◽  
L. Eric Hinesley
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Christmas Tree ◽  
Stem Cuttings ◽  
Abies Fraseri ◽  
Fraser Fir ◽  
Sexual Propagation ◽  
Christmas Tree Species

Abstract Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.], the most important Christmas tree species in North Carolina, is rapidly gaining popularity nationwide. It is propagated by seed, but special needs such as genetic improvement will involve use of grafting, air layering, propagation by stem cuttings, and micropropagation (tissue culture). This paper summarizes research conducted to date on Fraser fir concerning these techniques in addition to information regarding seed production and sexual propagation.

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