Effects of Swiss Needle Cast on Three Douglas-Fir Seed Sources on a Low-Elevation Site in the Northern Oregon Coast Range: Results after Five Growing Seasons

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) seedlings grown from three seed sources were evaluated for 5 yr on a high-disease-hazard site for their relative tolerance to Swiss needle cast. The seed sources were: (1) seed collected from trees showing an apparent degree of tolerance to Swiss needle cast in natural stands in the coastal fog belt, (2) open-pollinated seed orchard seed collected from random single-pair crosses of parent trees in natural stands outside of the coastal fog belt, but west of the Oregon Coast Range summit, whose progeny demonstrated an apparent degree of disease tolerance in coastal Douglas-fir progeny test sites, and (3) standard reforestation seed purchased from a commercial vendor. There were no significant differences among seed sources in basal diameter and total height for all five growing seasons. Needle retention varied among seed sources over the 5 yr period, but current-year needle retention did not vary significantly after the fifth growing season, and retention of 1- and 2-yr-old needles was relatively low for all seed sources. The intense disease pressure on this site may have overwhelmed expression of disease tolerance among seed sources. We do not recommend planting Douglas-fir on such high-hazard sites. West J. Appl. For. 16(1):31-34.