The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center: its strategic plans for sustaining the hardwood resource

A regional center for hardwood tree improvement, genomics, and regeneration research, development and technology transfer will focus on black walnut, black cherry, northern red oak and, in the future, on other fine hardwoods as the effort is expanded. The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) will use molecular genetics and genomics along with traditional breeding, selection, and vegetative propagation to produce improved hardwoods, deployment systems and management strategies for these fine hardwood species. In addition, new knowledge of population genetic structure that will guide regeneration efforts through increased productivity and maintenance of genetic diversity in Central Hardwood forests.