International Union of Forest Research Organizations

Union Internationale Unin Internacional Internationaler des Instituts de de Organizaciones de Verband Forstlicher
Recherches Forestires Investigacin Forestal Forschungsanstalten

IUFRO Meeting Report Form

Organizers of IUFRO meetings and IUFRO focal persons at IUFRO co-sponsored meetings, respectively, are
kindly requested to fill in and return this form within two weeks after the meeting by email
(wolfrum@iufro.org), fax (+43-1-877 01 51-50) or mail (IUFRO Headquarters, c/o BFW, Hauptstrasse 7, 1140
Vienna, Austria). This information will be posted at the relevant IUFRO web pages and may be used for IUFRO
News and the IUFRO Annual Report.

(Note: Save this file under a new name and write directly into the form.)

1) IUFRO focal person/meeting organizer:

Name: Richard A. Sniezko

Function in IUFRO: Deputy Coordinator 2.02.15, and meeting organizer

Email: rsniezko@fs.fed.us

2) Meeting report (max. 100 words per paragraph)

Key issues discussed/latest findings in the field:

a) More than ever, non-native invasive and native insects & pathogens continue to heavily impact our natural
ecosystems and managed forests.

b) Natural genetic resistance is a key (and sometimes perhaps only) solution to viable reforestation or
restorations efforts; it also potentially represents a green, organic, sustainable path.

c) Several applied resistance programs have made key strides and resistant seed is available and being
utilized; these programs provide a framework for even more efficient work in the future for the programs that
are just beginning.

d) Research, including in the field of genomics, is needed to help guide and fast-track applied programs.
Climate change is likely to escalate the biotic (and abiotic) threats to forest ecosystems and understanding the
genetic variation within trees, their pests, and interactions with the environment will help managers and the
public discern the most viable management options for the future.

e) Long-live perennials such as trees face multiple threats and understanding & utilizing any possible cross
resistances is vital.

Conclusions (if possible, summarize key conclusions across presentations): Knowledge and use of genetic
resistance is a key tool for managers in helping maintain healthy native and managed forests and urban
plantings. Knowledge of this resistance allows managers to potentially be more proactive in some practices.
There are different types of resistance and determining which types or combinations will be durable is key for
tree species whether in managed plantations, restoration plantings or urban forests. Expertise from an array of
disciplines including genetics, pathology, entomology, evolutionary biology and silviculture is needed to move
applied resistance programs forth in the most efficient manner. Efficient, short-term screening methodologies
are vital to screening the hundreds or thousands of progenies or parents to uncover the relatively rare resistant
trees. Field trials from the more advanced resistance programs are now starting to provide validation of the
short-term screenings and further inputs on site hazard and efficacy of resistance under different environmental
conditions. This workshop brought together a unique grouping of expertises and the consensus was that more
frequent interactions from this group would be fruitful.
Outlook to future activities (proceedings, future meetings, other): A proceedings is planned. Interest in this
topic was very high and several groups are interested in potentially hosting the next meeting likely in 2 or 3
years. The live webcast (done somewhat experimentally) was a new feature to these types of meetings and
allowed scientists unable to travel to view presentations of interest.

Background information (meeting context): Native and non-native pathogens, insects and animals
continue to negatively impact forest ecosystems and plantations worldwide. Climate change will alter
host-damage agent relationships and may increase detrimental impacts from many biotic agents.
Genetic resistance within tree species is a key element to maintaining forest health. Utilizing genetic
resistance is one of the few management options available to combat the impacts of insects, animals
and pathogens. Resistance programs, including resistance breeding, will be vital as they increase the
efficiency in utilizing genetic variation to maintain or restore forest health when mortality or damage
becomes unacceptably high.
Resistance research and breeding has been underway in some forest tree species for over 50 years. An
informal survey completed in 2008 provides a snapshot of the level of activity in pest resistant
breeding around the world. A review (Sniezko 2006, Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 28: S270
S279) provides a partial update on four programs in the United States. Yanchuk & Allard 2009
discusses tree improvement programs for forest health in the presence of climate change (Yanchuk &
Allard 2009, Unasylva 231/232 Vol. 60: 50-56). With climate change and continued invasion by non-
native pathogens and insects, the contributions of resistance breeding to forests and ecosystems in the
future are needed more than ever.

The purpose of this workshop is to advance progress in genetic resistance programs by fostering
collaboration between scientific and management communities from throughout the world.
It has been three decades since the last international workshop on Resistance Breeding in Forest
Trees to Pathogens and Insects. During this time, ongoing resistance programs have made significant
progress, and several new serious insect and pathogen problems have arisen. Scientists, land managers
and policy-makers with experience in genetics, tree breeding, pathology, entomology, physiology,
evolutionary biology, forestry and other related areas will benefit from the exchanges of information.

Thank you very much for your kind cooperation!

3) Other information: Most of the participants had not met each other prior to this meeting the opportunity of
the formal and informal exchanges at the meeting have provided the foundation for continued interactions and
new collaborations. An evening Statistics Workshop (presented by Dr. F. Isik): Analysis of Categorical Data
Using Generalized Models was of high interest.

Meeting data:
Full title of the meeting: Fourth International Workshop on the Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions in Forestry
Disease and Insect Resistance in Forest Trees

Date and venue: July 31 Aug 5, 2011, Valley River Inn, Eugene, Oregon USA

Meeting website: http://ucanr.org/sites/tree_resistance_2011conference/

Number of participants:88

Countries represented: USA, Canada, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Great Britain, Australia, Japan,
India, Sweden

Organization of the meeting:

All IUFRO Units involved: 7.03.11 & 2.02.15

Host organization(s): USDA Forest Service;

SPONSORS:

IUFRO Working Parties: 7.03.11 (Resistance to Insects) and 2.02.15 (Breeding and Genetic
Resources of Five-Needle Pines);
USDA Forest Service: Western Wildland Environment Threat Assessment Center
(WWETAC), Eastern Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EWETAC), Pacific
Northwest Region (Forest Health Protection & Genetic Resource Programs), Pacific
Southwest Research Station (PSW);Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW);
King Estate Winery;
FuturaGene;
Starker Forests;
University of California Cooperative Extension;
California Oak Mortality Task Force.

Study tour(s) to: USDA Forest Services Dorena Genetic Resource Center & USDI Bureau of Land

Managements Tyrrell Seed Orchard

Communication activities (dissemination of information about the meeting; promotion of IUFRO): Through the

various working groups as well as wide dissemination through various forest forest
pathology/entomology/genetics/silviculture mailing lists.

Related publications /websites: http://ucanr.org/sites/tree_resistance_2011conference/ (also note, the

meeting was live webcast and that webcast is still available at the links from the website.

Thank you very much for your kind cooperation!