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Integrated research activities

for supply of improved larch to tree planting:

tree improvement, fl oral biology and nursery production

Field Trip Guide

Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Quebec City, September 16-21, 2007

LARIX 2007: International Symposium of the IUFRO Working Group S2.02.07

(Larch Breeding and Genetic Resources)

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Sch edule of th e Symposium

Larix 2007: International Symposium of the IUFRO Working Group S2.02.07:Integrated Rresearch Activities for Supply of Improved Larch to Tree Planting: Tree Improvement, Floral Biology and Nursery Production

Sunday Sept. 16Monday Sept. 17Tuesday Sept. 18Wednesday Sept. 19Thursday Sept. 20Friday Sept. 21

AM

12h00 –1st bus departure : Montréal ( P.E.Trudeau Airport ) toSaint-Michel-des-Saints(§2h30 drive) Lanaudière Field Trip −

Stop #1Typical Sugar Maple − Yellow Birch Stand

Stop #2Tamarack Natural Stand(Larix laricina) Berthierville and Batiscan Field Trip −

Stop #1

Berthier Provincial Nursery – MRNF

• Indoor Orchard• Controlled Pollination• Seed Treatment Centre IUFRO and PCC/CPC4 Invited Speakers(Joint Session with the Poplar Council of Canada)(Québec City Convention Centre) IUFROGeneticsTree Breeding

Silviculture of Larchand Wood Transformation I and II

(Québec City Convention Centre) Two options:1)Tree Improvement Programs at the DRF (Duchesnay)2) Saint-Modeste Provincial Nursery and Propagation Centre- MRNF

• (full day)

(Lunch on your own)(Provided on tour)(Provided on tour) (Provided at the Convention Centre) (Provided at the Convention Centre) (Provided at Duchesnay or Saint-Modeste)

PM

18h00 –2nd bus departure: Montréal ( P.E.Trudeau Airport) toSaint-Michel-des-Saints(§2h30 drive) Stop #3Larch Operational Plantation (2000)Stop #4 Larch Progeny Test and Plantation (2001) Stop #2Larix kaempferi SeedOrchard − Batiscan

Arrival in Québec City app. 17:30 IUFROPlenary Session: General Topics on Larch

Poster Session

(Québec City Convention Centre) IUFROTree Breeding II

Nursery Productionand Floral Biology

(Québec City Convention Centre) 2) Saint-Modeste : • Larch Cutting Propagation • White Spruce Somatic Embryogenesis End of Symposium (Dinner – Package, Auberge du Lac Taureau) (Dinner – Package, Auberge du Lac Taureau) (Dinner on your own, Québec City) (Dinner on your own, Québec City)

Evening

Registration andIce breaker Working Group S2.02.07

Business Meeting IUFRO et CPC/PCCBanquet provided at the Québec City Convention Centre

(Auberge du Lac Taureau)(Auberge du Lac Taureau)(Lodging in Québec City)(Lodging in Québec City)(Lodging in Québec City)

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Integrated research activities

for supply of improved larch to tree planting:

tree improvement, fl oral biology and nursery production

LARIX 2007: International Symposium of the IUFRO Working Group S2.02.07

(Larch Breeding and Genetic Resources)

Field Trip Guide

Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Quebec City, September 16-21, 2007

(4)

The text of this publication can be quoted giving reference. Its printing is also restricted. A PDF fi le is available on the Carrefour Web Site.

Carrefour de la recherche forestière Web Site: http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/carrefour/english/index.asp Cette publication est aussi disponible en français, sur demande.

Editors:

Pierre Bélanger, Martin Perron, Pierre Périnet and Mireille Desponts

Design:

Maripierre Jalbert

Layout:

Jessica Groleau and Maripierre Jalbert

Maps:

Jean Noël, otherwise as indicated

Photos:

1-2. Gaston Lapointe 3. Jean-Philippe Mottard 4. François Caron 5. Denise Tousignant 6. Patrick Lemay

Rear cover: Gaston Lapointe

Publisher:

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec Direction de la recherche forestière

2700, rue Einstein, Québec, Québec Canada G1P 3W8 Telephone: 418-643-7994 Fax: 418- 643-2165 Email: recherche.forestiere@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca

Web Site: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/connaissances/recherche

© Gouvernement du Québec

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, 2007 ISBN: 978-2-550-50504-4

ISBN(PDF): 978-2-550-50505-1 1 2

3 4

5 6

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Table des matières

Schedule of the Symposium ...c2

List of Contributors ... iv

A word from the organizers ...1

Acknowledgments ...2

Thanks to our sponsors! ...3

Brief Overview of Canada’s Forests ...4

Québec—Land of Forests ...5

Larch Tree Improvement in Québec by the MRNF ...7

Seed and Forest Plant Production in Québec ...9

Day 1 − September 17, Stops 1, 2, 3, 4, Saint-Michel-des-Saints Lanaudière Administrative Region ...11

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 1, Saint-Michel-des-Saints A typical sugar maple/yellow birch stand...13

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 2, Saint-Michel-des-Saints A natural stand of Larix laricina ...17

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 3, Saint-Michel-des-Saints Operational plantation of Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd., Lac au Piège sector ...19

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 4, Saint-Michel-des-Saints Progeny test of European larch and hybrid larch in Brassard Township (BRA42801) ...23

Day 2 − September 18, Stop 1, Berthier Lanaudière Administrative Region Stop 2. Batiscan Mauricie Administrative Region ...27

Day 2 − September 18, Stop 1, Berthier Berthier Station ...29

Day 2 − September 18, Stop 2, Batiscan Part 1. Japanese Larch Seed Orchard ...33

Day 2 − September 18, Stop 2, Batiscan Part 2. Pollen harvesting outdoors by bagging ...37

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1, 2, 3, 4, Duchesnay Option 1. Centre d’expérimentation et de greffage de Duchesnay Capital City Administrative Region ...41

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1-4, Duchesnay Black spruce and jack pine tree improvement programs in Québec ...43

Day 5 − September 21, Stop 1-4, Duchesnay Norway Spruce in Québec ...45

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1-4, Duchesnay The white spruce tree improvement program in Québec ...47

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1-4, Duchesnay Managing second-generation seed orchards and integration of somatic embryogenesis in orchard management...49

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1, 2, 3, 4, Saint-Modeste Option 2. Saint-Modeste NurseryLower St. Lawrence Administrative Region ...51

Day 5 − September 21, Stops 1-4, Saint-Modeste Saint-Modeste Nursery ...53

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List of Contributors

Pierre Bélanger

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Michèle Bettez

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

Alain Bonneau

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

Brigitte Blais

Direction générale régionale de Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada

Fabienne Colas

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Mireille Desponts

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada André Dion

Emballages Smurfi t-Stone Canada Inc., La Tuque, Québec, Canada Annie Fortin

Louisiana Pacifi c Canada Ltd.−Division St-Michel, Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec, Canada Jean-Yves Guay

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

Mohammed S. Lamhamedi

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Gaston Lapointe

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Marie-Josée Mottet

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Martin Perron

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada André Rainville

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Corine Rioux

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

Michel Rioux

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

Denise Tousignant

Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada Laurence Tremblay

Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles et Direction de la recherche forestière, ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, Canada

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A word from the organizers

TheDirection de la recherche forestière (DRF) of Forêt Québec, in collaboration with IUFRO, the Réseau Ligniculture Québec, Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd.− Saint-Michel Division, Smurfi t-Stone Canada Packaging Inc., the Directions régionales des forêts de Laval-Lanaudière-Laurentides et de la Mauricie and the Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles, welcomes members of the IUFRO – S2.02.07 (Larch Breeding and Genetic Resources) working group to Québec. We hope that the Larix 2007 Symposium, the fi rst of the working group’s meetings in North America, will meet your expectations through the program activities we have organized, starting with two days of fi eld visits.

Forêt Québec, one of the sectors within the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec , has the mandate of administering the various facets of sustainably managing Québec’s public forests, and of contributing to the development of the forest products industry and private woodlots. Within this broad framework, the mission of the DRF is to participate in improving forest practices in Québec by undertaking research and development projects in diverse fi elds and by ensuring the transfer of know-how to practising foresters.

The primary aim of the IUFRO – S2.02.07 (Larch Breeding and Genetic Resources) working group is to facilitate communications among researchers interested in larch genetics, as well as in associated fi elds (physiology, wood quality, pathology, etc.), and to pursue the mission of international cooperation on larch. The principal objective of the Larix 2007 Symposium is to share advances in larch research, especially in the fi elds of genetics, tree improvement, fl ower biology and plant production, as well as in silviculture and wood processing. We hope that the program will generate dialogue among researchers and practitioners. Such meetings should also promote the launching of new cooperative projects.

This symposium aims at integrating research disciplines related to obtaining and producing improved larch varieties for reforestation. Participants will have the opportunity to discover the regions of Lanaudière and the Mauricie, and to visit natural forests as well as some larch plantations. A number of research and development projects in tree improvement and tree reproduction will be presented; among others, at two government nurseries that produce larch varieties from controlled crosses and multiplied by cuttings or somatic embryogenesis. Afterwards, participants will present the results of their research during poster and communication sessions, which will be held in Québec City as part of the Carrefour de la recherche forestière .

For this edition, the Larix 2007 Symposium is being held in conjunction with the 2007 annual meeting of the Poplar Council of Canada by holding the plenary session of invited speakers, a banquet at the Carrefour, as well as a visit to the Centre d’expérimentation et de greffage de Duchesnay , where the DRF’s tree improvement programs will be presented. These two events are designed to emphasize two of our star species, poplar and larch, which have been the subject of the DRF’s research programs since the early 1970s. We would like to mention that DRF is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Hosting events like these can be traced back to the actions of visionary pioneers such as Messrs. Gilles Vallée and Ante Stipanicic, inititiators of the research projects in tree improvement and intensive silviculture.

Everywhere in the world we see a clear tendency of meeting the increasing demand for wood through the establishment of plantations. In Québec, the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune Act was modifi ed in 2005 to include principles of forest ecosystem management associated with the functional zoning of the territory. Intensive silviculture therefore meets specifi c production issues on a reduced area, while reducing pressures on our natural forests.

In addition, in the spring of 2006 the Québec government announced a silvicultural investment program funded with a $75 M budget over four years. These investments will allow us to carry out intensive silviculture on high-potential sites, especially the establishment of fast-growing species. Holding this Larix 2007 Symposium integrates well with this thinking.

We wish you a pleasant stay in Québec, la belle province, and a successful and fruitful Symposium!

The Organizing Committee

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Acknowledgments

We extend our thanks to the Carrefour de la recherche forestière and the Direction de la recherche forestière (DRF), who made holding the Larix 2007 Symposium possible as part of the joint seminars of the Carrefour. Our fi nancial partners played a key role by providing necessary material support for this regionally based multi-day event. Thanks for your support!

In addition to the organizing committee, several persons participated in organizing the Symposium, in the regions as well as at the Carrefour, and we cordially thank them for their contributions: Stéphan Mercier, Maripierre Jalbert, Marie Dussault, Mireille Desponts, Jean Noël, and Pierre Gagné. Thanks also to members of the Scientifi c Committee, particularly to Luc Pâques, for their contribution to program development and their many ideas.

We particularly thank Pierre Périnet, Pierre Bélanger, and Marie-Louise Tardif for their collaboration and constant support, and specially Gaston Lapointe for his involvement and unfailing enthusiasm since the beginning with the Larch tree improvement project. Our thanks also are directed to DRF genetics and tree reproduction personnel, as well as to Nathalie Langlois, Sylvie Bourassa, Jessica Groleau and Guillaume Plante for their help with publications.

Also, our thanks go to the other persons who participated in organizing the Symposium, particularly to the personnel of Berthier and Saint-Modeste nurseries.

We recognize the invited speakers, authors, moderators and Larix 2007 Symposium participants for their contributions.

Lastly, we wish to underline the indispensable contribution of the organizing committee members and the major support given by Forêt Québec managers for this event.

Martin Perron,

Chair, Organizing Committee

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Thanks to our sponsors!

The organisers of the Larix 2007 Symposium thank all the sponsors for their valued collaboration and their support for funding.

Category Gold

Category Bronze

Category Nickel

Avec la participation de : Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles

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Canada’s forests account for:

• up to 10% of the world’s forest cover;

• about 30% of the world’s boreal forest;

• more than 25% of the world’s temperate rainforest;

• 25% of the world’s wetlands;

• 25% of the world’s freshwater.

Of the three main forest biomes in the world, two—boreal and temperate—

are found in Canada. (The third biome, tropical forest, does not occur in Canada.) The boreal forest constitutes 77 percent of Canada’s forest land. It starts in the Yukon and northeastern British Columbia and stretches across the northern parts of the Prairie provinces, Ontario and Quebec to Newfoundland and Labrador. Boreal forest summers are short, moist and moderately warm; winters are long, cold and dry. Temperate forests grow in eastern Canada where there are well-defi ned seasons and a moderate climate. Temperate rainforest occurs along much of Canada’s west coast.

Canada’s forests can be categorized into eight types according to location and combinations of dominant tree species (see map above). Canada’s urban forests may be considered a separate forest type. For many Canadians, their day-to-day relationship with trees takes place in the urban forest.

Canada covers 882.1 million hectares of land and another 88.3 million hectares of water and 8.7 million hectares of unspecifi ed land, for a total area of 979.1 million hectares. Forests (310.1 million hectares) and other wooded land (92 million hectares) make up about 46 percent of Canada’s land mass.

About 294.8 million hectares of Canada’s forest are not reserved and could therefore be available for commercial harvesting. Just under half (143.7 million hectares) of these potentially harvestable hectares is subject to forest

management and, of that half, 0.9 million hectares is harvested annually.

Most of Canada’s forest (93 percent) is publicly owned — 77 percent under provincial or territorial jurisdiction and 16 percent under federal purview.

Under Canada’s Constitution, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have specifi c roles in the care and governance of public forests. They also share responsibility for such matters as environmental regulation and science and technology.

The 10 provinces and three territories have legislative authority over the conservation and management of forest resources. They develop and enforce policies, legislation and regulations, allocate timber licences, collect forest management fees and gather data. The federal government is responsible for matters related to the national economy, trade and international investments, federal lands and parks, and Aboriginal peoples. About 80 percent of the harvesting that takes place in Canada occurs on public land, predominantly on provincial/territorial lands.

Authorized information sources:

Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/sof/sof06/overview_e.html

Brief Overview of Canada’s Forests

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Forests are an integral part of the heritage of Quebecers, who have a deep emotional link to them and to everything that affects this precious resource, whether they are lovers of nature, forest workers or Sunday visitors. In Québec, more than in other developed countries, forests are everywhere and fulfi ll many environmental, social and economic functions. Managing this invaluable resource falls to the Minister of Ressources naturelles et de la Faune.

Québec has an area of 1.5 Mkm2, equivalent to that of Germany, France and Spain combined. Its territory is scattered with thousands of lakes and rivers, which makes it the most abundant jurisdiction in fresh water in the world in per capita terms.

Three distinct vegetation zones are present in Québec. In the north, the Arctic zone is characterized by vegetation composed of shrubs and plants; in the centre, the Boreal zone is dominated by stands of conifers; and in the south, called the Temperate northern zone, by hardwood and mixedwood stands. Southern Québec in turn is divided into three sub-zones, with the continuous boreal forest covering 73% of the forested area. The other two more southerly situated sub-zones in the northern temperate zone, are the sub-zone of the mixed forest (covering 13% of the area), and the deciduous forest that covers 14%. Because most of Québec’s population is concentrated in the St. Lawrence River valley, the forests in the latter sub-zone have largely been removed for agriculture and urbanization since colonization began.

Summary of the forestry portrait of Québec

The forested area of Québec covers 655,124 km2, of which 89% (584,721 km2) is in the public domain and 11% (70,403 km2 ) is privately owned. Accessible forests on public lands cover an area of 451,966 km2 and contain a merchantable volume of 3,755.0 Mm3. Softwood cover (fi r, spruce, jack pine and larch) is markedly dominant.

The average volume, all species included, is 83 m3/ha.

Depending on the cover type, the area of productive and accessible forests is distributed as follows:

hardwood – 10%, mixed – 17%, softwood – 63% and no cover – 10%. In terms of volume, the same categories break down as follows: hardwood – 15%, mixed – 22%, softwood – 63%. A proportion of the stands are in the mature age class, since 60% of this area contains stands that are less than 60 years old. The gross merchantable volume is composed of 73% softwoods and 27% hardwoods (20% hard hardwoods and 7% poplars).

As a general rule, Québec’s forests are relatively young in the south and older in the north. With the exception of some spruce stands on the North Shore, softwood stands have an even age structure and harvesting is done using the cutting-with-regeneration-and-soil-protection method. In deciduous stands, which are generally of uneven age, single-tree harvesting is most commonly used. When adequate cutting methods are employed, forests in Québec usually regenerate naturally.

In order to conserve as well as develop our natural resources on public lands over the entire area of the province, the MRNF minister, in concert with the ministers of the other concerned ministries, prepares a land use plan under the authority of the Act Respecting the Lands in the Public Domain. This plan is important, on one hand, to align the actions of the ministries and other governmental organisations with respect to the control and management of the territory and, on the other, to inform the public and other interested parties about government policies. The land use plan distinguishes three broad categories of public lands: those where production is prohibited, those where production is permitted, though subordinate to conservation of the environment, and those where harvesting and resource use is the priority, while respecting the other functions and uses of the forest. The Regulations Respecting Standards of Forest Management for Forests in the Public Domain elaborates on the conditions to be respected in each of these categories. This regulation targets three main objectives:

protect all of the resources in the forest; guarantee the compatibility of forest management activities with the government’s allocated use of the territory, and to ensure the continuation or restoration of the forest cover.

The minister of the MRNF allocates of wood volumes from forests in the public domain to supply conversion plants. The Timber Supply and Forest Management Agreement (CAAF) is the principal tool at the disposal of the minister to carry out this allocation. The holder of a harvesting permit for a conversion plant, who also has been granted a CAAF, is authorized to harvest each year on a defi ned territory, a volume of roundwood of one or several species in order to ensure the operation of the mill. The territory on which the CAAF is exercised is called a “management unit”. This territory combines one or several “common areas”, that is, areas where one or a certain number of forestry companies are authorized to harvest wood of distinct species, groups or quality. Each common area is subject to a general forest management plan and a specifi c allowable cut calculation.

The CAAF has 25-year duration and can be extended every fi ve years for another fi ve-year period if the benefi ciary has respected his obligations and the provisions of the law and its regulations.

Information source:

MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET DE LA FAUNE. 2002.

Rapport sur l’état des forêts québécoises, 1995-1999.

272 p.

Québec—Land of Forests

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Notes

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In the early 1970s, the MRNF’s larch tree improvement program was initiated with the establishment of comparative plantations of several species and varieties.

The program was mainly focussed on eastern larch (tamarack; L. laricina [Du Roi] k. Kock) and European and Japanese larches (L. decidua Mill.,EL; L. kaempferi [Lamb.] Carrière; JL). Currently, we have samples of six other larch species, specifi cally L. gmelinii, L. occidentalis, L. olgensis, L. siberica, L. dahurica, and L. principis rupprechtii.

Figure 1. Location of tests (over 100) for eastern larch and introduced larches tree improvement programs. Often, there is more than one test per location, particularly in 21 MRNF arboretums.

The second generation eastern larch improvement program will be limited to specifi c activities (no controlled crosses), because of the low observed genetic variability for growth in several tests. Moreover, demand is limited mainly to the spruce-moss bioclimatic domain, where growth is poor because of the short growing season (about 143 days). Selection of the second generation population will end around 2010 and will encompass traits that are directly linked to wood quality (e.g., density).

In terms of the second generation of introduced larches (EL, JL and their hybrid [L. x marschlinsii Coaz; HL]), the program started in 2003 and is more developed, (Figure 2). However, before implementing this second generation program, we have reviewed and corrected our tree improvement strategy for introduced larches.

This strategy takes into account current gains and needs, the future of forestry in Québec and current knowledge in genetics. This is why the strategy of reciprocal recurrent selection with forward selection (RRS-FS) will be implemented. This strategy is favoured because it is one of the safest among the recognized genetic improvement strategies for interspecifi c hybrids (Kerr et al. 2004). In addition, it guarantees the benefi t of greater domestication of parental species, which is not negligible at this stage.

For example it will permit verifying the need to make use of more than breeding zone and, if need be, to identify the families of parental species (EL and JL) that are best adapted to the various bioclimatic domains in Québec.

The selection of families and provenances was fi rst done with respect to the total height growth performance at age 9, 10 or 15 years using the available data. Afterwards, mass selection was carried out using trunk straightness characteristics, crown quality (branch size, angle and number) and resistance to diseases (absence of damage).

Also, using molecular markers hybridized subjects were excluded (cf., Acheré et al. 2004, Gros-Louis et al. 2005).

In all, 80 EL and 80 JL were retained, and comprise the breeding groups for the second generation, which are breeding populations of parental species.

First, two polymixes will be used to evaluate the general combining ability (GCA) and the general hybridization ability (GHA) for all of the trees from the breeding groups for each parental species. This breeding plan will produce 160 half-sib families of H1 (80 H1 ExJ and 80 H1JxE) as well as 80 intra-specifi c half-sib families from each of the parental species, for a total of 320 families. With regard to using the comparative plantations to evaluate the GCA and GHA, six sites in four bioclimatic domains (sugar maple/basswood; sugar maple/yellow birch, balsam fi r/yellow birch and balsam fi r/white birch) will be chosen. At each site, three comparative plantations will be established: one to evaluate the GHA and two to evaluate the GCA, or one for EL and one for JL. The ten- year measurement (around 2023) will provide part of the useful information needed to create breeding populations of parental species for the third generation.

Then, intra-specifi c controlled crosses will be carried out according to a factorial mating design (8 and 6) in sub-groups within two breeding groups of 16 selected trees (ST) and two of 24 ST, in order to create 136 full-sib families per parental species (EL and JL). The 136 full- sib families, from each of the parental species, will be planted in two recruitment and breeding plantations in order to reduce the risk of damage or losses. It simply means plantations comprised of a large plot for each family (probably 7 x 7).

Finally, the production population of the new improved variety of second generation HL was composed of a sub-group of breeding populations of parental species, 20 EL and 20 JL, or 25% of the breeding populations. To minimize parental links and maintain the genetic diversity of descendants of this population, there was a maximum of two STs per source (descendants or provenances). The 20 EL from the production population represent 16 half- sib families from nine provenances, whereas the 20 JL represent eight provenances and six half-sib families, or 14 sources. During the winter of 2006/2007, these trees were grafted by the Direction des pépinières et stations piscicoles with the aim of creating a production population for the second generation improved variety of HL.

Larch Tree Improvement in Québec by the MRNF

By Martin Perron

2

2 2

2

2

Hull Rouyn

Gaspé Matane

Québec

Montréal Roberval

Val-d'Or Rimouski

Maniwaki

La Tuque

Chandler Sept-Iles

Saint-Jean Chibougamau

Baie-Comeau

Murdochville

Drummondville Trois-Rivières

Thetford Mines

Saint-Hyacinthe

Rivière-du-Loup

Mont-Laurier 50°0'0"N

50°0'0"N

48°0'0"N

48°0'0"N

46°0'0"N

46°0'0"N

0 35 70 140

Kilomètres

Towns

Location of tests for larches tree improvement programs Secteur

Arboretum 2 Second generation

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Figure 2. Diagram of larch tree improvement by the MRNF-Québec.

References:

ACHERÉ, V., P. FAIVRE RAMPANT, L. E. PÂQUES, D. PRAT. 2004.

Chloroplast and mitochondrial molecular tests identify European X Japanese larch hybrids. Theorical and Applied Genetics 108: 1643-1649.

GROS-LOUIS, M. C., J. BOUSQUET, L. E. PÂQUES, N. ISABEL. 2005.Species-diagnotic markers in Larix spp. based on RAPDs and nuclear, cpDNA, and mtDNA gene sequences, and their phylogenetic implications. Tree Genetics & Genomes 1: 50-63.

KERR, R. J., M. J. DIETERS, B. TIER, H. S. DUNGEY. 2004.

Simulation of hybrid forest tree breeding strategies.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34: 195-208.

Information contacts:

Martin Perron, biologiste, Ph. D.

Researcher, larch tree improvement (Direction de la recherche forestière) martin.perron@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca 418 643-7994 poste 6547 Gaston Lapointe, tech. f. sp.

Responsible for technical aspects of larch tree improvement gaston.lapointe@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca

418 643-7994 poste 6552

Legend: GCA=General Combining Ability; GHA=General Hybridization Ability; ST=Selected Tree; SCA=Specifi c Combining Ability; SHA=Specifi c Hybridization Ability; fam.=family; H1=Hybrid; RBP=Recruitment and Breeding Plantation; sp=species.

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In Québec, the production of seeds and forest plants is coordinated Direction générale des pépinières et des stations piscicoles), whose mandate is: “To contribute increasing the productivity of Québec’s forests by ensuring the production of improved seeds and plants according to the needs of clients and at the lowest possible cost.” .

Reforestation in Québec is in the order of 150 million plants annually, allocated as follows:

• 122 M on public forests;

• 28 M on private forests.

These plants are produced by 23 nurseries (Fig. 1), with the following proportions:

• 45 M by the six MRNF nurseries (Berthier, Grandes- Piles, Normandin, Saint-Modeste, Sainte-Luce, and Trécesson);

• 105 M by 17 private nurseries, via contracts negotiated with the Offi ce des producteurs de plants forestiers du Québec.

To produce these plants, 450 M seeds are required each year, of which 80% are from improved sources, coming mainly from the 1127 hectares of provincial seed orchards. In addition, the best identifi ed individuals in tree improvement programs are being used to carry out controlled crosses in order to produce elite seeds for use in the production of cuttings. The same crosses are also being used to produce plants by somatic embryogenesis.

The main species being produced are black spruce, jack pine, white spruce and Norway spruce. Along with conifer production are 1.5 M hard hardwoods and 1.5 M hybrid poplars.

To be among the leaders in reforestation, Québec’s objective is to produce the highest quality plants. They represent the leverage required to increase the productivity and yield of our forests. To ensure good survival after planting, and in order to attain the anticipated productivity, rigorous quality control is exercised for each lot shipped.

Desirable qualities are mainly for:

• a well-developed root system;

• robustness of plants (H:D ratio);

• plant dimensions (H and D);

• absence of disease and insects;

• nitrogen reserve;

• well-formed plant (stem and roots).

Figure 1. Location of the 23 government and private nurseries in Québec. (Map modifi ed from Lamhamedi et al. 2005).

Reference:

LAMHAMEDI, M.S., R. MARIO, L. VEILLEUX. 2005. Élaboration des seuils de tolérance au gel des plants d’épinette blanche 1+0 en pépinière forestière selon les régions écologiques du Québec. Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Direction de la recherche forestière. Mémoire de recherche 147, 52 pages.

Seed and Forest Plant Production in Québec

By Alain Bonneau

C.P.P.F.Q.

Pépinière Harrington Les Serres

coopérative de Guyenne Trécesson

Normandin

Ste-Luce Coopérative forestière Laterrière

Centre sylvicole Forestville inc.

Serres et pépinière Girardville

Pépinière La Loutre

Somival inc.

Grandes-Piles

Berthier

C.P.P.F. Technofor inc.

Saint-Modeste

Béchedor inc.

Sargim inc.

Pampev inc.

Pépinière Baie-des- Chaleurs inc.

Coopérative des Hautes-Laurentides

Reboisement Mauricie inc.

Planfor inc.

Pépinière Boucher 4 6

7

5 4

3 2 3

5

1 1 2

4

80°0'0"O 75°0'0"O 70°0'0"O 65°0'0"O

46°0'0"N 48°0'0"N 50°0'0"N 52°0'0"N

0 50 100 200

km

Black Spruce-Lichen (7) Black Spruce-Moss (6) Balsam Fir-White Birch (5) Balsam Fir-Yellow Birch (4) Sugar Maple-Yellow Birch (3) Sugar Maple-Basswood (2) Sugar Maple-Bitternut Hickory (1)

Provincial Nursery Private Nursery Bioclimatic Domain

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Notes

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Day 1 − September 17, Stops 1, 2, 3, 4, Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Lanaudière Administrative Region

Portrait of Lanaudière Administrative Region

This administrative region covers an area of 13,405 km2. Forests cover an area of 10,497 km2, of which 77% are on public lands and 13% on private lands. Productive and accessible forests on public lands cover an area of 7,572 km2 and contain a gross merchantable volume of 82.0 Mm3. Water and non-forested land comprises 9% and 13%, respectively, of the area. The area of protected areas, parks and ecological reserves total 574 km2.

The public forests of Lanaudière make up 78% of the gross merchantable volume available in the region. The mixedwood cover type is predominant. The average volume, all species combined, is 108 m3/ha. Depending on the cover type, the area of accessible productive forests on public lands is distributed as follows: hardwoods 28%, mixedwoods 45%, softwoods 21% and 6% no cover. In terms of volume, this distribution is as follows: hardwoods 31%, mixedwoods 48% and softwoods 21%. Most of the stands are of medium age, with stands less than 60 years old occupying 59%

are the area. Gross merchantable volume is comprised of 43% softwoods and 57% hardwoods. Softwoods belong mainly to the group “fi r, spruce, jack pine and larch”. Hardwoods are represented by 46% hard-hardwoods and 11%

poplars.

Information source:

MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES. 2002. Rapport sur l’état des forêts québécoises, 1995-1999. 272 p.

Map Legend:

Lanaudière Administrative Region

Day 1 − 17 September, Saint-Michel-des-Saints (No 1 on map) Day 2 − 18 September, Berthier (No 2)

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Saint-Michel-des-Saints Regional Landscape Unit

The Saint-Michel-des-Saints Regional Landscape Unit (RLU)1is located about 100 km north of Montreal. The topography of this unit is broken, and made up of rolling and high hills with rounded summits and hillsides of moderate to steep slope (average slope: 14%). Mean elevation is 431 m. Surface deposits are dominated by a deep till, although thin tills are present on most of the high hills. The drainage system belongs to the St. Lawrence drainage basin and contains several water bodies, of which the principal one is the Taureau Reservoir in the north. The Matawin River, which fl ows from west to east towards the St. Maurice River, is the most important water course. The unit is part of the sugar maple/

yellow birch bioclimatic domain. The climate is categorized as sub-polar humid, continental (mean annual temperature 2.50C, growing degree-days 1111 to 1444 0C). It is characterised by a medium long growing season (160–170 days).

The aridity index is from 125 to 175. Mean annual precipitation is 900 to 1000 mm, of which 25–30% falls as snow.

The potential vegetation on mesic sites is sugar maple/yellow birch on mid slopes and balsam fi r/yellow birch on upper slopes. Well-drained sites are colonized by potential vegetation of black spruce/moss stands and green alder. On less well-drained benches are found balsam fi r/red spruce. Forests cover almost all land in this RLU.

Information source:

ROBITAILLE, A., J.P. SAUCIER. 1998. Paysages régionaux du Québec méridional. Les Publications du Québec. Sainte-Foy (Québec). 215 p.

1 The regional landscape unit (RLU) is a part of southern Québec that is characterised by a recurrence of permanent ecological features of the environment and vegetation. The geology, surface deposits, topography, elevation, hydrography and bioclimate make up the permanent factors that defi ne and structure it, whereas the potential vegetation and distribution of some tree species serve as climate indicator characters.

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Day 1 − September 17, Stop 1, Saint-Michel-des-Saints

A typical sugar maple/yellow birch stand

By Brigitte Blais and Pierre Bélanger

The site on which we are standing is within the Saint- Michel-des-Saints landscape unit (4,270 km2) and the sugar maple/yellow birch bioclimatic domain.

Topography is broken, being formed of low and high hills having rounded summits and moderate to steep slopes.

The average elevation is 111 metres and the mean slope 14%. Many escarpments dot the landscape in the eastern part of the unit. The western part is less broken, with the Matawin River fl owing through a large valley.

The mean elevation (431 m) is much higher than in the eastern and southern units. The rock substrate is made up of crystalline metamorphic rocks (gneiss).

The thick till covers over 40% of the total area and is found especially on the knolls and hills in the western sector.

A frontal moraine crosses the unit in the southeastern corner (Saint-Narcisse moraine). The thin till extends over a quarter of the area, especially on the high, broken hills in the east, where the summits have numerous, large rock outcrops. In this zone, the thick till is only found in the thalwegs. Fluvioglacial deposits are found in the larger valleys, in particular in the Matawin River valley.

The hydrographic network is part of the St. Lawrence River watershed, and includes many water bodies, of which the main one is the Taureau Reservoir in the north.

Lakes are distributed uniformly over the territory. The Matawin River, which fl ows from west to east towards the Saint-Maurice River, is the largest watercourse.

Sugar maple/yellow birch bioclimatic domain

As previously mentioned, the Saint-Michel-des-Saints landscape unit is within the sugar maple/yellow birch bioclimatic domain. This domain borders the southern part of the Laurentian Plateau and the Appalachians, covering 65,600 km2 of a zone called the northern temperate zone, which is over 110,000 km2 (see the colour fi gure on the back of the cover). It has a subpolar, subhumid, continental climate. The annual mean temperature is 2.5 °C, mean annual precipitation is 1,100 mm and the mean growing season is 160-170 days.

Widely distributed, sugar maple/yellow birch stands are found in the environments typically observed in this region at various elevations. On lower slopes and less exposed hillsides we fi nd yellow birch/fi r stands, intolerant hardwoods and balsam fi r, whereas steep and poorly drained sites produce softwood stands, the majority of which are fi r and spruce.

Sugar maple/yellow birch types grow on moderately drained sites and on humo-ferric or ferric-humic podzols covered with a moder humus. Along with the distinctly dominant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) is a variable quantity of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.). Some beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) and some conifers, especially balsam fi r (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.), red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.), white spruce (P. glauca [Moench] Voss) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis

[L.] Carrière) appear sporadically. Sugar maple/yellow birch stands generally have an uneven age structure, which reveals the capacity of both species to take advantage of gaps to regenerate or accelerate their growth (Lemieux 1963; Majcen et al. 1984). Finally, it should be mentioned that windthrow plays a preponderant role in the dynamics of the forests in the sugar maple/yellow birch bioclimatic domain.

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

Sugar maple (Photo 1) is recognized by its fruit, the samara (Photo 2), by its brownish buds and its green, fi ve-lobed leaves with smooth borders (Photo 3),

The maple leaf, Canada’s national emblem, changes gradually to yellow and red in the autumn,

An Appalachian tree, it grows mainly in the southern part of the province in soils that are rich, moist and well- drained, preferably on elevated sites,

Height: 35 m, Diameter: 90 cm, Age: 200 years.

Photo 1. Sugar maple (photo MRNF).

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Photo 2. Fruits (samara) of sugar maple (photo MRNF).

Photo 3. Sugar maple leaf (photo MRNF).

Maple syrup production

In early winter, sugar maple transforms the carbohydrates that are accumulated during the summer into sugar. In the spring this sugar is taken up by water absorbed by the roots, a fortunate mixture called maple sap.

At the fi rst sign of spring, the sugar bush operator taps the sugar maples by drilling small holes through the bark to a depth of about fi ve centimeters, to which are attached a system of tubes (Photo 4). The tubes connect directly all the tapped trees to the sugarhouse. With the help of successive freezing and thawing cycles, the pressure in the tree is modifi ed, causing the fl ow of maple sap that fl ows through the tubes. However, the mechanism that triggers this remains unknown.

Photo 4. Tubing in a sugar bush (photo MAPAQ) [Ministère de l’Agriculture des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec].

Next comes the time to convert the maple sap using an evaporator, a process during which the unique maple fl avour develops and which allows for the preparation of the extremely popular maple products!

Description of Mr Rondeau’s Sugar Bush:

Location Sainte-Émélie-de-L’Énergie, in Lanaudière

Latitude 46° 24’ 16’’ N

Longitude 73° 44’ 32’’ O

Area 1.62 ha

Number of trees tapped 700

Species present in the sugar bush Sugar maple (95%), some of which are close to 100 years, yellow birch and white birch.

Principal products Mainly maple syrup, but also some taffy and sugar.

Work method Tube system in place. Preparation of maple products is done in the traditional way, heating with wood.

Climate, soil and topography

Mean annual precipitation 900 to 1 100 mm

Mean annual temperature 2.5 °C

Length of growing season 160 to 170 days

Elevation 440 m

Deposit Sandy loam (78% sand – 13% silt – 9% clay)

pH 4.05

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Exclusive to northeastern North America, maple syrup production is well-established in Canada, which produces 86% of the world’s maple syrup. Among producing provinces, Québec is the principal supplier.

Canadian Maple Syrup Production…

Québec: 93%

Ontario: 5%

New-Brunswick: 2%

A large proportion of Québec’s production is exported to the United States. From 2000 to 2005, the amount shipped increased by a remarkable 17%, attaining 88%.

That being said, several sugar bushes, like the one belonging to Mr Clémentien Rondeau, continue to be tapped for non-commercial purposes. Thus, for almost 30 years, Mr Rondeau has provided his family with maple products, his family-based sugar bush being a hobby above all.

Method used in bygone days

Even though production methods have been improved, especially since the 1970s, some syrup producers choose to use traditional methods. Instead of the tube system, these producers prefer to insert a metal or plastic spigot into the tapped tree (Photo 5), which allows the sap to drip into a bucket made for the purpose. Traditionally, the buckets were collected using a horse-drawn sled.

But independent of the way in which it is produced, syrup time is a Québec custom, so much so that each spring numerous groups of friends or families meet at a sugarhouse to savour their maple products!

Photo 5. Plastic spigot (photo MAPAQ).

References:

LEMIEUX, G.J., 1963. Ecology and productivity of the northern Hardwood forests of Québec. Thèse de doctorat, Université du Michigan, Ann-Arbor. 144 pages.

MAJCEN, Z., Y. RICHARD ET M. MÉNARD, 1984. Écologie et dendrométrie dans le sud-ouest du Québec, étude de douze secteurs forestiers. Serv. Rech., Min. Res. Nat., Québec, Mémoire no 85. 334 pages.

Information sources:

GRONDIN, P. ET COLLABORATEURS, 1996. Domaine de l’érablière à bouleau jaune. Manuel de foresterie, Première partie – Le milieu forestier, Chapitre trois Écologie forestière, pp. 183-196. Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec. Les Presses de l’Université Laval, Québec.

MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET DE LA FAUNE, 2007.

Guide de reconnaissance des types écologiques.

Direction de l’environnement forestier et Direction des communications. 113 pages.

ROBITAILLE, A., J.-P. SAUCIER, 1998. Paysages régionaux du Québec méridional. Les Publications du Québec, Québec, 213 p.

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Notes

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Three species of larch are indigenous to North America.

Two of them, subalpine larch (Larix lyallii Parl.) and western larch (L. occidentalis Nutt.) are only found in southwestern Canada and in the northwestern United States. Eastern larch (Larix laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch) is therefore the only representative of the genus in eastern North America. Its range (Figure 1) is actually among the most widespread of any conifer on the continent. It extends from Alaska to the Atlantic Provinces, as well as into the northeastern states (e.g., Vidakovic 1991).

Figure 1. Range of eastern larch.

Eastern larch

Eastern larch is a tree of medium size, attaining 25 m in height, 40 cm in diameter, and with a lifespan of 150 years (Farrar 1996). In Québec, it is the only conifer that sheds its leaves in winter. It reaches sexual maturity at about 10 years of age and fl owering reaches optimum levels at about age 75 (Farrar 1996). It differs from European and Japanese larches by its shorter needles and smaller cones (1 to 2 cm in length) (Photo 1).

Photo 1. Female cones and needle cluster (photo MRNF).

Eastern larch grows under extreme climatic conditions.

Indeed, minimum recorded temperatures range from -290 to -62 0 C and maximum temperatures from 290 to 430C (Johnston 1990). Larch stands are found between 500 and 1200 metres in elevation, and precipitation varies from 180 to 1400 mm per year (Tousignant and Stipanicic 2000). Most often, it grows on cold, fairly poorly drained sites, especially accompanied by black spruce (Picea mariana) and eastern white cedar

(Thuya occidentalis) (Farrar 1996). However, it is observed in mixed stands in association with the following species (Johnston 1990):

1-Pinus banksiana 2-Abies balsamea 3-Picea glauca 4-Pinus resinosa 5-Pinus strobus 6-Populus balsamifera

In spite of the fact that it frequently colonizes wet soils, eastern larch performs better on well-drained soils.

Several authors report that the most productive sites for this species are well-drained uplands (In NIELSEN 1989).

In fact, its growth is one of the most rapid among boreal species (Mead 1978 In Carter 1987). It is important to mention that this species is highly intolerant of shade, as are the other species in the Larix genus. Because of this, competition control in young plantations is essential if we want to ensure survival.

According to Frère Marie-Victorin (1964), around 1874 the species almost disappeared due to defoliation by the larch sawfl y (Pristiphora erichsonii). Growth reduction and paler latewood growth rings show that other serious attacks by the sawfl y occurred during the following years:

1895 to 1912, beginning of the years 1920, 1937 to 1942, 1955 to 1962, at the end of the 1970s and the start of the 1980s (Girardin et al. 2001).

Description du site

Stand location

Municipality Saint-Zénon

Province Québec

Latitude 46° 35’

Longitude 73° 51’

Climate, soil, topography

Mean annual precipitation 1 000 to 1 100 mm Mean annual temperature 2-3 °C

Elevation 400 m

Stand density 40 to 60%

Deposit Sand and gravel

Slope 0 %

Soil texture Loamy sand

Sand Silt Clay

84%

10%

6%

pH 4.31

Age and height of stand

Mean height 12 to 17 m

Stand age 70 years

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 2, Saint-Michel-des-Saints

A natural stand of Larix laricina

By Gaston Lapointe and Martin Perron

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Domestication in Québec

Over the last 35 years, almost 50 experiments on eastern larch have been established in bioclimatic domains 1 to 6 in southern Québec (see colour map on the back of cover 3), as part of the tree improvement program of the Direction de la recherche forestière (MRNF) in Québec.

The material came mostly from collecting seeds from natural stands in Québec, Ontario and the Maritimes. In addition, seed orchards helped supply improved eastern larch seeds to meet reforestation needs, for which the annual demand amounts to about 750,000 seedlings.

Its traditional and modern uses

Because of its high resistance to decay, among other things it was used for building boats, barns, bridges, and for posts and railway ties. Native peoples used the roots to sew birch bark canoes and to make snowshoes. They also used it for its medicinal properties for fl u and colds, as a laxative, to treat anemia, burns, disinfecting cuts, and as an analgesic. Even today, its branches are used by the Cree of James Bay to make bird calls for ducks and geese for hunting.

More recently, tests carried out using eastern larch showed that it has good potential for making wood pulp, particle board and various lumber products. A few companies here also use it to make shingles, fl ooring and outdoor furniture (refer to our fi nancial partners in the guide book).

Its rapid growth, and the quality and beauty of its wood make eastern larch an interesting species for Québec forestry and its use should increase over the coming years.

Information contacts:

Martin Perron, biologiste, Ph. D.

Researcher, larch tree improvement (Direction de la recherche forestière) martin.perron@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca 418 643-7994 poste 6547 Gaston Lapointe, tech. f. sp.

Responsible for technical aspects of larch tree improvement gaston.lapointe@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca

418 643-7994 poste 6552

References:

CARTER, K. K. 1987. Larch plantation management in the Northeast. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 4 (1):

18-20.

FARRAR, J. L. 1995. Les arbres du Canada. Fides, Saint-Laurent et le Service canadien des forêts, Ottawa. 502 pages.

FRÈRE MARIE-VICTORIN. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2e édition entièrement revue et mise à jour par Rouleau, E. Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal. 925 pages.

Photo 2. Natural stand of eastern larch at Saint-Zénon, Québec (Photo Gaston Lapointe).

GIRARDIN, M.-P., J. TARDIF, ET Y. BERGERON. 2001. Radial growth analysis of Larix laricina from the Duparquet area, Québec, in relation to climate and larch sawfl y outbreaks. Écoscience. 8 (1): 127-138.

JOHNSTON, W. F. 1990. Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch.

Tamarack. Dans: Sylvics of North America Volume 1, Conifers (eds. Burns R. M., Honkala B.H.), pp. 260- 280.

NIELSEN, C. 1989. A literature review of the soil-site requirements of eastern white pine, Norway spruce and larch. Ministry of Natural Resources, Fast Growing Forests Group. Brockville. 6 pages.

TOUSIGNANT, D., A. STIPANICIC 2000. Larix laricina – Full data sheet. Dans: Forestry Compendium Global Module (Encyclopédie multimédia sur CD-ROM). CABI Publishing. ISBN 0-85199-483-0.

VIDAKOVIû, M, 1991, Conifers morphology and variation.

Grafiþki Zavod Hrvatske, Zagreb. 755 pages.

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Description

Principal objective Production of rapidly growing species to increase the allowable cut of softwoods in the Matawin area.

Location

Municipality Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Province Québec

Latitude 46o43’ 01’’N

Longitude 73o50’ 10’’W

Area 9.06 ha

Current owner Québec Government

Manager Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd via its mandate to manage Common area 06202.

Climate, soil, topography

Annual mean precipitation 1 000 to 1 100 mm Annual mean temperature 4 to 5 °C

Length of growing season 170 to 180 jours

Slope 3 to 8%

Deposit Organic (over 50g/kg of carbone)

pH 4.37

Secondary objective Perfect our forest management practices. Improve the productivity of our plantations (performance, distance raw material/mill).

Primary collaborators

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (Direction de la recherche forestière et Unité de gestion Assomption- Matawin)

Material About 6 000 plants, of which 97% are large dimension European larch delivered in tubs, and 3% were bareroot hybrid larch delivered in bags.

Experimental design

According to the Forest Management Manual, 3rd edition, a plantation must contain between 1 500 and 2 000 plants ha-1. For the plantation in question, 1895 trees were planted.

CHRONOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIÉS Establishment of

experiment

May 2000

1995 Cutting with protection of regeneration and soils done with a feller-buncher.

May 2000 Site preparation by clearing; mixing of organic and mineral soils and placing slash in windrows to facilitate reforestation.

May 2000 Planting 6 000 European and hybrid larch plants the experimental layout.

July 2001

Manual release of the plantation with a brush saw. Loss of some trees during brushing in addition to those lost due to planting quality, quality of plants, climatic conditions, etc.

July 2006 During a visit to the plantation, several trees were more than 6 m in height.

Should be pruned within 2-3 years when plants will have reached 7 m.

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 3, Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Operational plantation of Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd., Lac au Piège sector

By Annie Fortin

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Larch plantations were established by Louisiana- Pacifi c Ltd to ensure a wood supply for the Saint-Michel-des-Saints sawmill. Lumber tests (com- pression, bending and drying) were done in 1998 using samples from a commercial thinning carried out at the MRNF’s La Patrie arboretum. Mean tree height and diameter were 18 m and 30 cm, respectively. The tests were conclusive, and allowed Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd’s forest managers to establish almost 2 000 ha of this type of plantation over seven years in the Matawin area.

Moreover, the objective of establishing hybrid larch can be followed up during the next fi ve-year plan from 2008 to 2013, and it will even be possible to expand the program to the south, which was not possible before. The management of this fast-growing species could continue in future in order to supply Louisiana-Pacifi c’s hardboard mill at Saint-Michel-des-Saints (tests were conclusive).

Because of its fi bre properties, Larch could replace trembling aspen, which is a highly desirable species for this type of mill. However, before increasing the area planted to hybrid larch, we must ensure the availability of sites that meet the needs of the species.

Information contacts:

Annie Fortin, ing.f.

Responsible for forestry planning (Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd, St-Michel Sawmill & OSB Division)

annie.fortin@fpcorp.com 450 833-1301 poste 200 Gaston Lapointe, tech. f. sp.

Responsible for technical aspects of larch tree improvement gaston.lapointe@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca

418 643-7994 poste 6552

Martin Perron, biologiste, Ph. D.

Researcher, larch tree improvement (Direction de la recherche forestière) martin.perron@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca 418 643-7994 poste 6547 Laurence Narinx, ing.f.

Responsible for brushing, reforestation and release operations with Bernard de Valicourt Inc.

bernard.devalicourt@bellnet.ca

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Halt # 3: plantation LPC Réservoir Taureau

Réservoir Taureau

Réservoir Taureau

Réservoir Taureau

Lac Hazeur

Lac Kaiagamac

Lac de la Roche Lac au Piège

Lac Desautels

Troisième lac à la Truite Île Solitaire

Île du Sauvage

Baie à Pépère-Hétu Auberge du Lac Taureau

Halt #4

creeks roads GPS Lakes plantation_meh_00-05 YEAR

2000 2001 2002 2003

2004 1:50 000 N

Figure 1. Site of operational plantations, 2000-2005. Louisiana-Pacifi c Ltd., Lac au Piège Sector (map Annie Fortin).

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Notes

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Problematic

Currently, the best-performing hybrid larch (L. x marschlinsii Coaz; HL) in Québec are from interspecifi c crosses between European larch (L. decidua Mill.; EL) and Japanese larch (L. kaempferi [Lamb.] Carrière; JL) (Stipanicic 1999). However, the larches are vulnerable to frost, and few tests were established in the balsam fi r/

yellow birch domain in Québec. In addition, few sources were evaluated in this bioclimatic domain. It is therefore necessary to increase the number of EL and JL families tested above 480N because of their good survival rate seen in previous tests. This experiment is integrated along with the evaluation of the parents (general combining ability) having served for the development of our indoor seed orchards. This will be discussed at the Berthier Forest Seed Centre. Evaluating EL parents is one of the last activities of the fi rst-generation tree improvement program for the larches.

Principal and Secondary Objectives

To compare the productivity of HL and EL in deciduous and boreal forests:

1)Determine more exactly the potential for HL and EL in the balsam fi r/yellow birch domain.

2)Identify the best performing and most hardy families.

3)Estimate the heritability of economically interesting characteristics.

Initial hypotheses

Equipped with improved hardiness, EL families will be more productive in terms of survival than HL in the more northerly test. HL will provide the highest percentage of productive families relative to growth (height and volume) in the two more southerly sites, located in the sugar maple/basswood and balsam fi r/yellow birch domains.

Day 1 − September 17, Stop 4, Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Progeny test of European larch and hybrid larch in Brassard Township (BRA42801)

By Martin Perron

Manicouagan-Outardes Management Unit (MRNF) and Louisiana Pacifi c Canada Ltd., St-Michel Division

Hull Rouyn

Gaspé Matane

Québec

Montréal

Roberval

Val-d'Or Rimouski

Maniwaki

La Tuque

Chandler Sept-Iles

Saint-Jean Chibougamau

Baie-Comeau

Murdochville

Drummondville Trois-Rivières

Thetford Mines

Saint-Hyacinthe

Rivière-du-Loup

Mont-Laurier

50°0'0"N

50°0'0"N

48°0'0"N

48°0'0"N

46°0'0"N

46°0'0"N

0 35 70 140

Kilomètres

Villes

Location of experimental plantations

Figure 1. Location of experimental plantations and bioclimatic domains. (map Gaétan Numainville)

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Material and methods

In 1998, 23 uniparental EL families were produced through open pollination in our experimental indoor orchards. The 16 HL uniparental families are from seeds collected in 1998 in Maine (Unity Seed Orchard 50). In addition, the hybrid variety 10373 (German orchard;

F. von LOCHOW-PETKUS) was used as a positive control because it is among the best performing in several of our tests (11 tests in 4 bioclimatic domains). The seeding and production of seedlings was done at the St-Modeste nursery in 1999 and 2000. The tests were composed of eight blocks, and linear plots (families) were made up of four plants spaced at 2.0 m intervals. Spacing between rows was 3.0 m at the time of planting. This experiment is repeated on three sites and a similar number of bioclimatic domains: the Brassard Township site in the balsam fi r/yellow birch domain (4c-T, BRA42601), the Rivière-aux-Rosiers site (5g-T, RRO42901) and the Villeroy Township site (2b-T, VRO42801) (see map to locate sites).

Description of experiment in Brassard Township (BRA42801):

Photo 1. Progeny test after planting. BRA42601 (Photo Gaston Lapointe).

Location

Municipality Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Province Québec

Latitude 46o44’ 28’’N

Longitude 73o55’ 10’’W

Area 1 ha

Climate, soil, topography

Mean annual precipitation 900 to 1 100 mm Mean annual temperature 2.5 0 C

Length of growing season 160 to 170 days

Altitude 386 m

Slope 3-7%

Deposit Sand (Sand 91%-Silt 6%-Clay 3%)

pH 4.47

CHRONOLOGY OF MAIN ACTIVITIÉS

Stand cutting 2000 cut with protection of regeneration and soil with feller-buncher

Site preparation May 2001 clearing; mixture of organic and mineral layers; stacking Experiment

establishment May 2001 Managing

competing vegetation

Manual releases: 2000, 2003, 2007 Measurements October 2001 survival

Octobre 2005 survival, total height, growth in 2005, forks, multiple leaders

Références

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