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

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.

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Frdéric Guay ◽  
Amy Bernier-Desmarais ◽  
Jean-François Doherty ◽  
Conrad Cloutier

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.


HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Elizabeth Rutledge ◽  
John Frampton ◽  
Gary Blank ◽  
L. Eric Hinesley

Two methods of application, the Danish Easy Roller and the German Sprühsystem, were tested to evaluate the effectiveness of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at reducing leader growth (tips of primary axes) of fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] Christmas trees. A commercial product, Sucker-Stopper RTU (1.15% ethyl 1-NAA), was applied to leaders at concentrations of 0 to 500 mL·L−1 when leaders were 8 to 15 cm long. As the concentration increased, leader elongation decreased. The Easy Roller reduced leader growth the most, but leader mortality was unacceptable at concentrations 20 mL·L−1 or greater. Although less effective than the Easy Roller, the Sprühsystem caused negligible mortality of leaders. Applying 40 mL·L−1 with the Easy Roller yielded ≈50% of leaders with target lengths of 20 to 36 cm with little mortality. The Sprühsystem gave similar results at 250 mL·L−1. NAA might be useful for producing dense trees with minimal shearing or for producing more natural, open trees during shorter rotations.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 151b
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Layne K. Snelling ◽  
C. Ray Campbell ◽  
D.K. Roten ◽  
Jeff Hartzog

Abstract. Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. Christmas trees were fertilized for 5 years with four levels of N (0, 56, 113, or 170 kg·ha-1 per year) in spring, fall, or equally split between spring and fall. Nitrogen did not affect leader length, number of leaders, or bud frequency on the upper (distal) portion of the leader. Nitrogen increased bud frequency on the lower (proximal) 20 cm of the leader in only 1 of 3 years of measurement. All application schedules increased the number of apical buds on branches, whereas the number of lateral buds was increased only by spring applications. Nitrogen increased tree fresh weight and retail value as well as weight, length, and surface area of needles. Foliar N concentrations in the fall varied with fertilization schedule, and were higher in November than in October.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Stuart L. Warren ◽  
Layne K. Snelling

In two experiments, uniconazole (0.25 to 16 mg·L-1 a.i.) was applied as a root drench to containerized Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] at various times of the year. Leader length, stem diameter, length of laterals, and number of subterminal buds were reduced the following growing season. Treatment during the 1994 growing season reduced lateral bud formation on the leader in 1995, whereas treatment with 8 or 16 mg·L-1 in Mar. 1995 (prior to budbreak) increased it. Uniconazole caused needle discoloration and abscission at concentrations ≥4 mg·L-1. Leader growth was reduced more than branch elongation, which tended to make plants more decurrent. The utility of uniconazole in production of tabletop Fraser fir Christmas trees was unclear; reduced shoot elongation was often accompanied by fewer lateral buds and needle discoloration and/or abscission. Chemical name used: E-1-(p-Chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazole-1-penten-3-ol) (uniconazole).


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1427-1428 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Layne K. Snelling

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.


Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 3057-3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Wei Li ◽  
Neil P. Schultes ◽  
James A. LaMondia ◽  
Richard S. Cowles

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.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 246
Author(s):  
Eric Hinesley ◽  
Buddy Deal ◽  
Earl Deal

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Nzokou ◽  
Bert M. Cregg ◽  
Jill O'Donnell

Abstract Excessive leader growth is a challenge for Christmas tree growers who are seeking about 30–35 cm (12–14 in.) shoot elongation for good balance between height and lateral growth. Current cultivation practices include manually pruning leaders to 30–35 cm. In this studywe investigated the use of a growth regulator Ethyl-naphthaleneacetate acid (NAA) and a girdling process using a five-bladed plier (Top-Stop Nipper, Monterey Lawn and Gardens Products, Inc., Fresno, CA) as alternative methods to slow leader growth in Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh]Poir.), and Korean fir (Abies koreana Wils). NAA applications at rates of 40–160 ml/L reduced the height growth in both Fraser fir and Korean fir. However, in Fraser fir, other morphological parameters such as the leader straightness and bud density were generally adversely affected.The highest rates of 250 and 500 ml/l caused unacceptable reduction in growth and in many cases leader death. NAA applications on Korean fir resulted in significant reduction of leader growth and significantly increased the bud density without negative impact on leader straightness. Partialgirdling of stems was not effective at reducing the leader height in both Fraser fir and Korean fir.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-87
Author(s):  
R. Chris Williamson

Abstract A field experiment was conducted in 2002 to evaluate the effect of five grub densities of second instar Phyllophaga anxia (LeCont) Glasgow larvae on feeding damage to roots of young seedlings of Fraser fir, Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir., Christmas trees in a transplant bed. Larval densities were equivalent to approximately 0, 31, 62, 93, and 124 larvae per m2 (≈ 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 larvae per ft2). Larval survival and variations in larval and seedling weight were also evaluated. Regardless of the larval density, when P. anxia grubs were present, all Fraser fir seedlings experienced significant root damage as well as subsequent plant injury (i.e., decline or mortality). Larval density as low as one grub per 0.11 m2 (≈ 3 larvae per ft2) caused heavy to severe root damage to young, two-year-old, P2-0 Fraser fir seedlings. An inverse relationship was observed between plant weight and root damage.


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