Our first genetically informed cherry orchard design is planted

This winter brought us a new exciting task. Design and plant three different cherry seed orchards. Sounds simple enough, except that some cherry trees cannot pollinate each other because they are too genetically similar. Every cherry tree belongs to a specific incompatibility group that prevents them pollinating with genetically related pollen. Meaning it is no use in planting incompatible groups together. 

To crack the code, we teamed up with Forest Research, which provided genetic information to help us correctly group every tree. Out of 123 trees (with known genetic data), they identified around 50 distinct incompatibility groups. 

Separating 50 groups while trying to maximise random mating of 800 trees on 3 different sites without readily available software seemed like exhausting mental gymnastics. That’s why we took things into our hands and programmed custom Future Trees Trust orchard design software! 

There are several diagnostics that we can use to test mating patterns within a seed orchard, and we are happy to report that all of them surpass our expectations! But to illustrate this graphically, we can highlight 2 different genotypes that belong to the same incompatibility group. And, satisfyingly enough, all trees are well spaced from each other.