Genetic improvement project prepares second grafting campaign

As part of the “Genetic improvement and forest reproduction materials” project, the first graftings were carried out in March 2023 to set up the first of three Pinheiro-Bravo seed-producing orchards with genetic improvement, in an area located in the Alva de Pataias Forest Perimeter.

A year later, the PINUS Center, the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) are taking part in a new field survey with the aim of preparing for the second grafting campaign and evaluating the results of last year’s campaign.

The images, taken on March 19, show the before and after of grafting on one of the trees in this first Orchard, the purpose of which will be to provide a greater quantity of seeds to produce more productive maritime pine plants, in terms of volume and trunk shape.