White Oak Initiative: Assessment and Conservation Plan (released Spring 2022) is now available here: https://www.whiteoakinitiative.org/assessment-conservation-plan

The white oak genetics and tree improvement program is looking forward to groundbreaking three genetic test plantings in late March! An annual report summarizing progress made in 2020 is available upon request. Some of the highlights since the last WOI newsletter update are described below.

Phase 1: Collection of Genetic Material
The 2020 mast year was much better than 2019 for many areas in the eastern US. Volunteers helped us obtain 112 collections representing 18 different states with over 39,000 acorns planted in the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s Morgan County nursery. We have a lot of geographic gaps in our acorn collecting effort, so please let us know if you are interested in helping. You just need to pick up acorns off the ground under ONE white oak tree to fill a 1-gallon bag. Shipping the acorns to the University of Kentucky is free, and complete instructions for what to do are provided!

Phase 2: Progeny Testing
Even though it was a poor mast year, 63 of the acorn collections from 2019 produced enough seedlings to move to genetic testing. There is a lot of genetic variation among seedlings at the nursery, so selection of high-quality seedlings for progeny testing will make immediate genetic gains toward white oak tree improvement.

A planting site provided by Maker’s Mark Distillery will evaluate adaptation and relative performance of the offspring from parent trees the acorns were collected from. Seedlings are also being planted on sites at the Brown-Forman and Buffalo Trace distilleries to evaluate how seedlings of different genetic backgrounds respond to different seedling establishment conditions.

We need partners willing to “host” small, regionally-based progeny tests across the eastern US. These tests will allow us to evaluate adaptation, local versus non-local superiority, and develop migration guidelines for moving white oak in response to climate change. Let us know if you are interested in participating in this part of the program.

Phase 3: Seed Orchards and Seed Production Areas
Twigs from parent trees whose progeny are being evaluated in the progeny tests were collected in January and February to create a clone bank to store genetic material for future grafted seed orchards that will produce acorns resulting in improved white oak seedlings. Obtaining twigs suitable for grafting is the most difficult part of the program thus far. Thanks to a utility company and a few arborists who volunteered their time to help our acorn collectors get twigs this year. If you have contacts with utility, arborists, or tree service companies who might be willing to volunteer to help, please let us know!

We need partners willing to dedicate 1-2 acres of their woodlands to establish acorn production areas of white oak. These areas will be planted with clusters of high-quality genetically diverse white oak seedlings that will eventually produce acorns that will result in improved white oak. These acorns can be sold or planted on the woodland owner’s property to help disseminate improved white oak in our forests! Let us know if you are interested in participating in this aspect of the white oak genetics and tree improvement program.