Resistance of half-sib interior Douglas-fir families to Armillaria ostoyae in British Columbia following artificial inoculation

The objectives of this study were to (i) develop a methodology for screening conifer seedlings for resistance to Armillaria ostoyae (Romagn.) Herink and (ii) screen a population of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Biessn.) Franco) population for resistance to A. ostoyae. Eighteen potted seedlings from each of 86 half-sib interior Douglas-fir families were challenged with inoculum in a 3-year greenhouse trial. The seed originated from four geographically distinct tree breeding zones that represent physically and biologically different environments in southeastern British Columbia. Mortality and the final percent survival of inoculated trees showed differences among the families (survival range 0%–61.1%) and breeding zones (survival range 6.6%–25.3%). Maximum heritability index (0.19) occurred at 28 months. Survival analyses revealed that most of the differences in survival could be explained by the zone from which the family originated. The less susceptible seedlings originated from the drier and warmer zones and limited the spread of the fungus in the root system. Moderate levels of family variation in resistance to A. ostoyae and low-moderate heritability suggest that, in interior Douglas-fir, gains in resistance can be achieved through breeding.