TreeLines

Announcing our new MCP^® 2.0!

Article by Michael Cunningham, PhD

We often get the question, “why do you classify your MCP products, aren’t all MCP the same?”  The answer is no!  Just because we cross two trees to make MCP does not mean they will perform equally or in some cases even better than our best Open Pollinated (OP). A cross between two lower-performing parents will give a lower-performing MCP family. And remember, not all MCP and CMP are the same.

ArborGen created product categories that define the production of our MCP.  ArborGen MCP product categories are based on the volume gain (in percent) above the average of our OP Elite.  MCP Advanced has 5 to 10 percent more volume gain than average OP Elite.  MCP Select has 10 to 20 percent more volume gain than OP Elite.  MCP Elite has 20 to 30 percent more volume gain than OP Elite.  In addition to improved volume, all crosses must meet a minimum letter grade of C or better for Rust Resistance, Straightness, and Forking.

All traits must be at least average or above average (no D or E scores).  This table summarizes the volume gains for each provenance and MCP category currently for sale at ArborGen.
 

Volume gains are percent improvement over the unimproved Provenance checklot

For the 2021/2022 crop year, ArborGen is introducing a new MCP category for our South Coastal provenance – MCP 2.0. These MCP crosses have volume gains of 90 and 95% greater than the unimproved control seedlots and 30 to 40 percent more volume than the OP Elite average. There are 9 new families with rust scores of A+, A, or B; Straightness scores of A+ or A, and forking scores of A or C.

This new category of MCP is the result of:

1. our internal product development program where we combine conventional tree breeding techniques with proprietary germplasm, propagation techniques, and genomics to develop new higher-yielding genetics
2. our MCP testing program – every MCP family under development is tested to ensure that the predicted performance for growth, Rust Resistance, and stem form is realized across various geographies,
3. and our accelerated seed orchard management and MCP production approaches bring new and better genetics into production quicker.

MCP 2.0 provides extra tons per acre at first thin and final harvest along with improvements in yields of the highest value sawtimber and pole product classes. The improvements in yield translate into higher first thinning and final harvest revenues.

Lower Coastal Plain site index 65 at 605 trees per acre

Available quantities of MCP 2.0 will start out small but will grow at the same rate as the seed orchards where these new elite selections continue to grow and become more productive. 

Customer Success Story: G. Clay Creed

Own or Manage Forest Land?

Participate in the 2020 Costs and Trends of Southern Forestry Practices Survey

Sponsored by Auburn University and Forest Landowners Foundation, this questionnaire will be used as a way to better understand the cost of current forestry practices as well as for a long-term study about how costs and management practices have changed over time and what influenced those changes.

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Contact Information:
If you have any questions, please contact Adam Maggard, Ph. D., Alabama Cooperative Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, School of Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, by email: adam0074@auburn.edu or by phone: 334.844.2401

Click here for the previous edition of TreeLines.