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RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE CAMCORE COOPERATIVE1

by

Dr. W.S. Dvorak, Director, CAMCORE, North Carolina State University, Raleigh

The Central America and Mexico Coniferous Resources Cooperative (CAMCORE) was established in 1980 at the College of Forest Resources, North Carolina State University (NCSU) with the main objectives of: (i) developing long term conservation programs for endangered forest tree populations, (ii) testing different species and provenances of forest trees over a range of environments in the tropics and subtropics to identify those with potential, and (iii) developing breeding programs for those species that show the most commercial potential. For further information on CAMCORE and earlier activities please refer to article in Forest Genetic Resources No 24 (1996). A number of activities have recently been initiated by the Cooperative and its members2. These activities include:

Pinus maximartinezii seed collections. In 1999 collections were made of 50 mother trees in the only existing stand situated in north central Mexico. Greenhouse experiments are in progress to determine the best ways to vegetatively propagate the species. Seeds will be distributed for ex situ conservation in late 1999.

Pinus jaliscana seed collections. Two years of Pinus jaliscana seed collections were completed in Jalisco, Mexico in 1999. Nine provenances and 87 mother trees were sampled (see article in Forest Genetic Resources No. 26, 1998). Seeds were sent to collaborators in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa to establish ex situ conservation plantings. Molecular marker studies are being initiated at NCSU to better study patterns of genetic diversity in P. jaliscana.

Gmelina arborea and Eucalyptus urophylla seed collections. Collections continued in natural populations in Southeast Asia. Combined provenance and progeny tests are being established in Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Venezuela.

Analysis of the performance of Bombacopsis quinata, Pinus tecunumanii, and Sterculia apetala. Across-country analysis of provenances and families was completed and the results are being published in forestry journals.

Screening of Mexican pine species for resistance to Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini (Pitch Canker). The screening was completed and Pinus jaliscana, P. oocarpa, P. pringlei, and low elevation populations of P. tecunumanii, were found to be the most resistant.

Selection of candidate plus trees of Pinus greggii, P. maximinoi, and P. tecunumanii. Selections were made in CAMCORE provenance/progeny trials. Cooperative members in the tropics and subtropics are in the process of establishing clonal seed orchards.

Testing of experimental pine hybrid crosses. Pollen exchanges are being made and tests are being carried out by cooperative members.

RAPD-based phylogeny study on pine species in the Australes and Oocarpae subsection. The study has recently been completed. The objectives of the study were to determine the evolutionary history of species within the subsections and to predict what hybrid crosses between the two groups would be most likely to produce fertile seeds.

International Tree Improvement Short Course. The next course, sponsored by CAMCORE and the Department of Forestry, NCSU, is scheduled for 27 May - 13 June 2001. The two week event will be held at NCSU (Raleigh, North Carolina) with field trips to private forest industry in the region. The course is for all foresters, managers, and administrators who want to enhance their skills in tree improvement or update their knowledge about tree improvement and silvicultural research in plantation forestry. The lessons will be taught primarily by faculty staff at NCSU.

For more information about CAMCORE and about the international short course please contact Dr. W.S. Dvorak: fax: 919-515-6426, e-mail: [email protected] or visit the webpage at: http://www2.ncsu.edu/camcore.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM THE EUFORGEN NETWORK

1998
Populus nigra Network. Report of the fourth meeting, 3-5 October 1997, Geraardsbergen, Belgium. Edited by Turok J., F. Lef�vre, S. de Vries, N. Alba, B. Heinze and J. Van Slycken, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome (E).

1998
Sustainable Forest Genetic Resources Programmes in the Newly Independent States of the Former USSR. Proceedings of a workshop, 23-26 September 1996, Belovezha, Belarus. Edited by Goncharenko, G.G., Turok, J., Gass, T. and Paule, L. Co-published by Arbora Publishers, Zvolen, Slovakia/ International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 210pp. (English and Russian)

1999
EUFORGEN Noble Hardwoods Network. Report of the third meeting, Sagadi, Estonia, 13 - 16 June 1998. Compiled by Turok, J., Jensen, J.,Palmberg-Lerche, Ch., Rusanen, M., Russell, K., de Vries, S. and Lipman, E. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. 116pp. (E)

The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme, EUFORGEN, is a collaborative programme among European countries aimed at ensuring effective conservation and sustainable utilization of forest genetic resources in Europe. It was established to implement Resolution 2 of the Strasbourg Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. EUFORGEN is financed by participating countries and is coordinated by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome in collaboration with the Forestry Department of FAO. The programme operates through networks in which forest geneticists and other forestry specialists work together to analyze needs, exchange experiences and develop conservation objectives and methods for selected species.

Copies of the above publication can be obtained from : IPGRI, Via delle Sette Chiese 142, 00145 Rome, Italy, Fax (39) 06 575 0309, Email: [email protected].

More information on EUFORGEN can be found at: http://www.cgiar.org/ipgrideploy/networks/euforgen/euf_home.htm

  1. Received August 1999. Original in English
  2. CAMCORE presently has 31 members from 15 different countries

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