Iowa groves look sad

[Hoggins]

Corn, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are constantly being genetically modified to produce certain traits. Does anybody do anything like that with trees? I assume it is at least theoretically possible. There probably isn't any money in it and maybe the slow growth is a problem too.

There’s only like 14 plant species that are GMO’s and it’s incredibly expensive. So I doubt anyone is working on GMO ash trees.

Native resistant is present in Ash tree populations and I’m sure someone is working on that. I wouldn’t hold my breath though. Selection takes time

 

[NENick]

Resistance is apparently starting...

‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals

Subtle DNA changes in trees demonstrate Charles Darwin’s natural selection – although human help may be needed

www.theguardian.com

Article seems to be talking about a fungus, not the emerald ash borer. Still, the idea of development of a natural resistance is hopeful.

 

[NoCreativity]

My lone ash tree is hanging on at about 75% of its original foliage and doesn't seem to be getting much worse every year.

Every spring I'm waiting for it to be completely dead, but for about 5 years straight it keeps bouncing back.

 

[Turn2]

There’s only like 14 plant species that are GMO’s and it’s incredibly expensive. So I doubt anyone is working on GMO ash trees.

Native resistant is present in Ash tree populations and I’m sure someone is working on that. I wouldn’t hold my breath though. Selection takes time

And have been for at least 20 years, because I grew their saplings. Yes, it will take a long time.

 

[Hoggins]

And have been for at least 20 years, because I grew their saplings. Yes, it will take a long time.

Yea, I work on corn/bean genetic pipelines and it takes us 7 years to make a product. I imagine tree breeding is like 5 times that

 

[Turn2]

Yea, I work on corn/bean genetic pipelines and it takes us 7 years to make a product. I imagine tree breeding is like 5 times that

Not necessarily. With trees you don't want to develop an inbred or pure line. You find resistance and then use scions. Screening and finding resistance is the tough part. Ramp up can be relatively quick.

 

[Cyientist]

Here is a next generation that my dad and I started on his farmstead about 8 years ago. About 300 trees on an acre to begin with.

 

[intrepid27]

Corn, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are constantly being genetically modified to produce certain traits. Does anybody do anything like that with trees? I assume it is at least theoretically possible. There probably isn't any money in it and maybe the slow growth is a problem too.

I know a guy that went to work for a VC company about 15 years ago that was breeding pine trees for specific end uses, pulp, lumber, etc. There seedlings were $.05-$.10 more expensive than the competition and they could not sell them. Went broke. Keep i mind they were targeting companies like Georgia Pacific and Weyerhaeuser.

 

[Marcelason78]

Most evergreens are not native to Iowa. Most are planted too close together in windbreaks. Looks good for the first 20 years, but then the reduced wind circulation and shade gets them. Conifers in Iowa are best as specimen trees or planted 40 or 50 foot apart.

Most of our 30 year old Black Hills spruce are dead. Don’t know if it is age or disease.
All of our other three species of evergreens are thriving.

 

[iowastatefan1929]

Pear trees seem like the toughest fruit tree for Iowa. Be curious what some of the experience is with them.

 

[cowgirl836]

I spread seed down in my yard every year and do a weed and feed. Dandelions still pop up. I never spray them though. I like dandelions in my yard. They look bad for a week of so. Big deal. Then comes the white clover. Love it. Grass still stays green and healthy.

Heard a neighbor complaining about clover in our yard. We also get the dandelions for a week in spring. Woop de do.

 

[AuH2O]

Have a big ash in the middle of town that we treated every other year and it still looks great.

My old home town golf course just cut down hundreds of ash trees that got hit.

We did have a massive white oak that just died and had to take down last fall. It's too bad.

Planted a couple white pines and spruce a couple years ago. They've hung in there with plenty of watering but dryness and weird winter has tested them. I have a heavily wooded and sloped back yard and am trying to provide some more winter density to coverage in the back. The hard part is there's already a hell of a canopy, so they don't get as much sun as I'd like, but just enough.

 

[cowgirl836]

Resistance is apparently starting...

‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals

Subtle DNA changes in trees demonstrate Charles Darwin’s natural selection – although human help may be needed

www.theguardian.com

would love to plan an Ash tree but avoid currently for obvious reasons.

 

[AuH2O]

Pear trees seem like the toughest fruit tree for Iowa. Be curious what some of the experience is with them.

I have a few cherry trees and they seem to be indestructible.

Our old farm had an apple tree get split by lightning and damn near falling over and it hung on producing fruit for like 15 more years until my dad finally decided to get rid of it and start over.

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

Pear trees seem like the toughest fruit tree for Iowa. Be curious what some of the experience is with them.

A farm I used to farm had 3 . Always had very good eating pears on 2 of the trees. Never all 3 in the same year, as I remember.

 

[cyphoon]

Yea, I work on corn/bean genetic pipelines and it takes us 7 years to make a product. I imagine tree breeding is like 5 times that

I was in a meeting with some plant breeders at the Big Seedcorn Company a few years back, and one of them said "You software guys have it tough. If you don't know what you are doing, people find out right away. If a corn breeder doesn't know what they are doing, it takes about a decade before people catch on."

To which another breeder chimed in : "Apple tree breeding is where the real gravy is. It will take them 50 years before they realize you don't have a clue."

H

 

[2speedy1]

Pear trees seem like the toughest fruit tree for Iowa. Be curious what some of the experience is with them.

Isnt that the one that they are saying to cut down and get rid of, because it is an invasive species. I swear I have had flyers etc that have said to get rid of them.

Edit: it might not be about the actual fruit variety.

 

[Turn2]

Isnt that the one that they are saying to cut down and get rid of, because it is an invasive species. I swear I have had flyers etc that have said to get rid of them.

Edit: it might not be about the actual fruit variety.

Callery Pear is not the fruit pear. I'd swear it's the third most popular tree in Ankeny after maple and ash. The blossoms stink to high heaven.

https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/invasive-bradford-callery-pear-why-it-is-so-detrimental/

 

[BigTurk]

Isnt that the one that they are saying to cut down and get rid of, because it is an invasive species. I swear I have had flyers etc that have said to get rid of them.

Edit: it might not be about the actual fruit variety.

I wondering if you are thinking of the ornamental Cleveland Pear. I have one in my yard as do many of my neighbors. I am thinking of cutting it down to plant and apple tree.

 

[clones_jer]

There is no such thing as lindenwood. Basswood or American linden is native and has no problems that I know off. I have several on my property that I planted 25 years ago. Littleleaf linden is a European tree i think. Non native, and if the Japanese beetles ever get going on them they will be toast in 5 years.

excuse me, a American Linden, not a Lindenwood. and the deceptively-named "Linden boarer" was the bug I was referencing.