TreeLines

May 2023 – 1st Edition

TreeLines

May 2023 – 1st Edition

TreeLines

May 2023 – 1st Edition

Are All Controlled Pollinated Seedlings Equal?

Are All Controlled Pollinated Seedlings Equal?

Are All Controlled Pollinated Seedlings Equal?

Large-scale control pollination to make hybrid crosses is a production technique – many companies can do it. But the result is not the same.

ArborGen has been at the forefront of large-scale control pollination, testing and producing mass-control pollinated seedlings (MCP®) for the market much longer than any other U.S. company.

We now have more than 100 MCP families adapted to every growing region across the loblolly pine natural range from Virginia to Texas.

Benefiting from more than 70 years of research from our parent companies (MeadWestvaco, International Paper, and Fletcher Challenge), we have long-term field trials and more than 20 years of commercial data. We now have more than 1000 acres of MCP orchards. Some other producers have rushed in to begin control pollination efforts, but it will take years and years to match our levels of gain and actual performance data.

Here’s the reason. After crosses are made from our highly tested parent trees, we create test plots. At approximately age six, we determine those highest-performing trees. Here’s what has to happen next: 

A Chart Highlighting The Timeline For Seed Selection, Testing, And Planting

ArborGen has four categories of its Mass Control Pollinated (MCP) hybrids separated by increasingly higher levels of volume growth while maintaining the same high standards for log quality depending on the seedling’s parents.

As with our open-pollinated (OP) seedlings, we have MCP Advanced, Select, and Elite.  With MCP, we offer an even higher-performing hybrid called “MCP 2.0.” Each category has clearly defined levels of gain and value to meet every landowner’s needs.

A Logo For Mass Control Pollinated
Seedling Type
OP ADVANCED
MCP® ADVANCED*
MCP® SELECT*
MCP® ELITE*
MCP® 2.0*
% of Gain in Height
16
21
23
27
29
% of Gain in Volume
49
65
70
80
90
% of Improved Straightness
30
50
53
55
57
% of Sawtimber Potential
65
77
77
77
77

The performance scores in the table above are for the Coastal region.

We continue to test hundreds of new hybrids for future introduction with more than 600 field trials in place.  With the stringent criteria we place on volume growth, straightness, disease resistance, and forking, you can be assured that any new MCP families we produce will be top performers.

to determine which MCP product is right for you or to place an order for next season’s MCP.

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Need a trusted partner to guide the way? Get in touch with a Reforestation Advisor to explore your options!
Austin Heine

Austin Heine

North Carolina and Virginia


910-660-3209

Greg Hay

Greg Hay

Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and Oklahoma


501-350-4217

Shannon Stewart

Shannon Stewart

Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana

936-239-6189

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.d.

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.D.

Alabama & Mississippi

Manager Special Projects & Sustainability
205-712-9582

Drew Fasano

Drew Fasano

Reforestation Advisor
South Carolina
843-520-6865

Blake Sherry

Blake Sherry

Reforestation Advisor
Georgia and Florida

912-433-5407

Kylie Burdette

Kylie Burdette

U.S. Sales Manager

864-650-4454

Jason Watson

Jason Watson

Director, U.S. Sales

404-840-7489