Propagation of Fraser Fir

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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Effect of Water Additives on Fraser Fir Needle Retention

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.1.1.90 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 90-91

Author(s):

L.E. Hinesley ◽

Sylvia M. Blankenship

Keyword(s):

Salicylic Acid ◽

Sodium Hypochlorite ◽

Tree Species ◽

Christmas Tree ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Fraser Fir ◽

Needle Retention ◽

Needle Loss ◽

Christmas Tree Species ◽

Better Than

Several floral and tree preservatives were evaluated to determine their effect on postharvest needle retention of Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.], an important Christmas tree species. Clorox (sodium hypochlorite) and aspirin (salicylic acid) caused massive needle loss, and three of the six commercial additives increased needle loss significantly, No treatment was better than water alone.

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Seasonal Occurrence of Phytoseiid Mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in North Carolina Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poiret) Christmas Tree Plantations

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-48.4.317 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 317-326

Author(s):

Logan Williams ◽

Fred P. Hain

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Seasonal Occurrence ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Christmas Tree ◽

Phytoseiid Mites ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Fraser Fir

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

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2018.41 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 632-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Adelges piceae. [Distribution map].

Distribution Maps of Plant Pests ◽

10.1079/dmpp/20123252648 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

North Carolina ◽

Prince Edward Island ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Fraser Fir ◽

Adelges Piceae ◽

New Distribution ◽

Distribution In Europe

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg) [Dreyfusia piceae]. Hemiptera: Adelgidae. Hosts: balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Fraser fir (Abies fraseri), and other Abies spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Albania, Austria, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy (Sicily), Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK), Asia (Turkey), North America (Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec), USA (California, Idaho, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia)), South America (Chile).

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Recent results of Czech-American fir hybridization research

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/55/2012-jfs ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 64-71

Author(s):

J. Kobliha ◽

J. Stejskal ◽

P. Škorpík ◽

J. Frampton

Keyword(s):

Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Christmas Tree ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Fraser Fir ◽

Abies Cephalonica ◽

Basic Parameters ◽

Viable Seeds ◽

The Individual

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Christmas tree plantations in North Carolina are infested by root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. This disease kills almost 100% of Fraser fir material and leaves the soil permanently infested. Control crossings of Mediterranean fir hybrids Abies cilicica × Abies cephalonica with Abies fraseri were performed to ensure possibly resistant hybrid material of desired Christmas tree parameters. Pollen of various clones of A. fraseri was shipped to the Czech Republic by NCSU. Control pollinations were performed in April/May 2010 and 2011 in our hybridization seed orchards. Female strobili were isolated in the period of their highest receptibility. Cones were collected during September. Cones were dried and completely disintegrated. Basic parameters of cones and seeds were assessed for each seed lot. Seed samples of the individual seed lots were X-rayed for assessment of the final share of full seeds. In 2010, the most successful combination CZ2 × NC81 brought 7% of viable seeds. In 2011 the most successful combination was CZ2 × NC26 with 18% of viable seeds.

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

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-08-028.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 184-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-03-19-0583-re ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 103 (12) ◽

pp. 3057-3064 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

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.

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Evaluating the Pathogenicity of Pythium vexans Isolates from Fraser Fir in North Carolina

Plant Health Progress ◽

10.1094/php-2008-1006-01-rs ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kelly L. Ivors ◽

Z. Gloria Abad ◽

D. Michael Benson

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Root Rot ◽

Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽

Root Systems ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Fraser Fir ◽

Pythium Vexans

The pathogenicity of Pythium vexans isolates collected from fir samples with typical root rot symptoms in North Carolina was evaluated on Fraser fir seedlings (Abies fraseri). Two replicated pathogenicity trials involving seven treatments were conducted in the lath house and greenhouse. Although the P. vexans isolates examined in these trials were able to colonize Fraser fir root systems, they did not cause mortality or incite root rot symptoms. In comparison, Phytophthora cinnamomi, a known aggressive pathogen of Fraser fir, caused severe root rot symptoms in all plants. These experiments provided no evidence that P. vexans is a pathogen of Fraser fir. Accepted for publication 12 July 2008. Published 6 October 2008.

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IMPACT OF THE BALSAM WOOLLY APHID (HOMOPTERA: PHYLLOXERIDAE) ON CONES AND SEED PRODUCED BY INFESTED FRASER FIR

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent105673-5 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 105 (5) ◽

pp. 673-680 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

G. F. Fedde

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

X Ray ◽

Fraser Fir ◽

Relative Susceptibility ◽

Western North Carolina ◽

Woolly Aphid ◽

Adelges Piceae

AbstractSeed produced by Fraser fir, Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir., infested by the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), was compared with that originating from uninfested trees during a cyclic year of heavy seedfall (1969) in western North Carolina. Cones were significantly shorter and seed uniformly lighter and smaller from trees infested by the aphid. X-ray examination indicated the number of full seed from uninfested trees averaged nearly 70% and 42% higher than in comparable seed samples from infested trees. Germination tests indicated viability of seed from infested trees exceeded 32% and that from uninfested trees exceeded 75%. An important factor affecting survival of seed from the two sources appeared to be the relative susceptibility of seed to attack by Megastigmus specularis Walley. Almost 28% more seed were destroyed by these seed chalcids for aphid-infested trees than for uninfested trees.

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