Got Nature? Blog

The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) was conceived in 1998 to address a perceived void in hardwood tree improvement research in the Central Hardwood Forest Region (CHFR) and is committed to enhancing the productivity and quality of CHFR trees and forests for the economic and environmental benefits they provide. Scientists at the HTIRC are using conventional tree improvement breeding as well as molecular and genetic technologies to improve the wood quality, growth characteristics, and insect and disease resistance of trees like black walnut, black cherry, red and white oaks, butternut and American chestnut. Research in tree breeding, tree nursery practices, tree plantation establishment and management, and Central Hardwoods silvicultural systems is aimed at increasing the regeneration success rate for high-quality hardwood trees and forests.

In this Fall 2024 HTIRC Newsletter you will find current research happenings that include:

• Butternut Workshop Highlights North American Efforts to Conserve Species – Butternut, a close relative of black walnut, is a declining and in many locations an endangered tree due in part to a fungal disease called butternut canker. Researchers are examining both the tree and the disease to develop strategies for conservation and restoration of the species.
• Olivia Bigham Presents Sassafras Wilt Study Results on National Webinar Series – Olivia Bigham, a PhD student in the Ginzel Lab at Purdue University recently presented on Sassafras Wilt in Indiana on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) University webinar series, a national webinar series highlighting forest insect, disease, and health research and extension.
• U.S. Forest Service Presents Tree Improvement 101 Webinar Series – A webinar series covering some core considerations for tree improvement, plus additional webinars on specific topics like black walnut seed orchard management and best practices for seed handling, is available from the U.S. Forest Service Reforestation, Nurseries and Genetic Resources (RNGR) program.
• 2024 HTIRC Seed Harvest Summary is Available – Every year HTIRC staff and students harvest hundreds of pounds of seed to support forestry researchers and nursery stakeholders, especially the Indiana Division of Forestry’s Vallonia State Nursery. Starting this year, the HTIRC also began supplying seed from select seed trees to Tree Pro for private distribution.
• Digital Forestry Can Help Mitigate, Prevent Wildfires – Digital Forestry offers a variety of tools and technologies to address resource management challenges. One of the greatest challenges currently is catastrophic wildfires threating communities and natural resources around the world. Learn how researchers at Purdue University’s Institute for Digital Forestry are leveraging technology to get more complete and accurate measurements of forests to assist with management of wildfires.
• Morgan Furze, New Tree Physiology Lab Highlighted in Recent Article – The tree physiology research of Dr. Morgan Furze and several other collaborating HTIRC scientists was highlighted in a recent article. “We’re interested in how trees store and move carbohydrates throughout their bodies and how that impacts their ability to survive and thrive in their environments,” Furze said.

View the full Fall 2024 HTIRC Newsletter and learn more about the impact and awards received along with more current research articles.

Resources:
HTIRC 2023 Annual Report
Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (HTIRC)
Tropical Hardwood Tree Improvement & Regeneration Center (tropHTIRC)
Partners, Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources
An Introduction to Trees of Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Playlist, Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
District Foresters for 10 plus acres, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Wood Products, FNR Concentration

Hardwood Tree Improvement Regeneration Center (HTIRC)