Nursery Seed Efficiency Can Affect Gains from Tree Improvement

The efficiency of a tree improvement program can be greatly affected by the degree of seed efficiency in the nursery. The gains from tree improvement can be 50% greater from a nursery with 90% seed efficiency than from a nursery with 60% seed efficiency. However, because the nursery and tree improvement are usually operated by different divisions, the goals of the nursery manager may not include the long-term objective of optimizing future wood production. This can result in nursery management practices that waste a third or more of seed from the best genetic sources. If high seed efficiencies are to be routinely achieved, State Foresters and Corporate Executive Officers must provide the incentives and adequate support to maintain the best personnel and equipment. Additional