Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190415
Title: TSUGA CHINENSIS AS A SOURCE OF HOST RESISTANCE TO THE HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID

Author
item Bentz, Susan
item Griesbach, Robert
item Pooler, Margaret
item TOWNSEND, ALDEN - RETIRED ARS EMPLOYEE

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2005
Publication Date: 1/11/2006
Citation: Bentz, S.E., Griesbach, R.J., Pooler, M.R. and Townsend A.M. 2006. Tsuga chinensis as a source of host resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid. 17th Annual USDA Interagency Research Forum on Gypsy Moth and Other Invasive Species.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The native eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, and the Carolina hemlock, T. caroliniana, suffer injury and death following infestation by the hemlock woolly adelgid(HWA), Adelges tsugae, an introduced pest. Asian hemlocks are reported to be more tolerant. Research on the nature of genetic resistance of hemlock to HWA at the U.S. National Arboretum focuses on three areas of investigation: 1. Create, plant and evaluate hemlock hybrids and parent species for HWA resistance and landscape merit; 2. Investigate the nature of the apparent crossability barrier between T. canadensis and T. chinensis; and 3. Plant and evaluate wild-collected T. chinensis germplasm for landscape suitability and HWA resistance. Hybridization studies combined with field evaluation may lead to the development of trees that are both tolerant to the adelgid, and horticulturally desirable.