• • • Loblolly and Slash Pine Rooted Cutting Program • • •

Rooted-cutting technology offers enormous potential for increasing forest productivity and value. In many parts of the world, intensively managed forest plantations established with rooted cuttings are producing high value/low cost wood. In the U.S., a reliable, cost effective, rooted-cutting system for loblolly and slash pines is needed.

The NCSU Pine Rooted Cutting Program in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources is conducting research to study the process of root initiation and to develop a useful technology for these species. A research team comprised of scientists from the fields of molecular biology, physiology, genetics, and horticulture has been assembled to conduct the research. There are currently three participating faculty members, two advising scientists, two post-doctoral researchers, one technician, and three graduate students working in a team environment.

Research is being conducted in five primary areas:

Genetic selection for rooting is being evaluated for its potential to enhance efficiency in rooted cutting systems and for its effects on genetic gain for growth rate and rust resistance.

Root initiation and maturation research is concentrating on understanding the molecular and cellular processes that occur during adventitious root initiation and which steps are blocked by maturation-caused loss of rooting ability.

Stock plant management studies are determining the optimal mineral fertilization regimes for hedged stock plants as well as other management tools to maximize rooting success.

Refining the rooting environment is being accomplished by studying the effect of environmental factors on physiological processes in the cuttings such as moisture stress, photosynthesis and respiration.

The quality of rooted cuttings is being evaluated by testing the effects of plant hormones and other compounds on root system morphology and also measuring the performance of these cuttings in field tests.

Opportunities for graduate study or post-doctoral research experience are possible in any of the areas described above or on related subjects.

For more information, contact John King :

NCSU Loblolly and Slash Pine Rooted Cutting Program
Department of Forestry
Box 8002
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8002
919-513-7855
Fax: 919-515-3169
Email: john_king@ncsu.edu

Web:   http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jsking5/Lab_page.html