Seed Planning and Registry Application (SPAR)

The Seedlot Selection tool helps users find seedlots that fit CBST and access maps showing biogeoclimatic ecosystem classifcation (BEC) zones where seeds can be used. Please refer to the instructions tab to learn how to properly use and interpret the tool.

The SPAR Quick Start Tutorial is a useful way to quickly "get up to speed" on all functions for first-time SPAR users. The tutorial can be completed in one sitting, or one module at a time. In addition, the SPAR Primer on Seedlots and Seedling Requests (PDF, 1.1MB) is a quick way to review information.

This online learning module will introduce you to some of the changes being introduced as part of the SPAR 2.0 update and provide an overview of the system's functionality and processes. This applies to A Class seedlot registration only.

Forest Genetic Tree Breeding, Selection, and Testing

In British Columbia, the protection, management, and conservation of forest tree genetic resources is the responsibility of the Forest Improvement and Research Management Branch within the Ministry of Forests. This includes oversight of the provincial forest improvement program, including forest genetic research, tree breeding, selection, and testing of material intended for orchards. Forest genetic research currently includes selections for growth, wood quality, and resistance to forest health-related pests and pathogens.

Genetic worth explained

Genetic Worth (GW) is a measure of the genetic quality of a seed or vegetative lot relative to natural or wild stand material, measured for a specific trait (i.e., growth, wood density, disease and insect resistance). GW is calculated as the average breeding value (or clonal value) of parent trees (or clones) contributing to a seedlot (or vegetative lot) weighted by the relative contribution of the parents (or clones) to the lot. In British Columbia, GW is assigned to orchard and natural stand superior provenance seed and vegetative seed sources selected and tested in the ministry’s Tree Improvement program.

Why is this important?

Planting seedlings that have been selected for improved growth performance, form (e.g. wood quality) and resistance to pests and pathogens is important to help natural resource managers maintain forest productivity, resilience, and health. Implementing these forest regeneration and climate change adaptation strategies now is especially critical as climate change is projected to increase the severity and frequency of biotic (insect and disease infestations) and abiotic disturbance events (e.g. (wildfire, drought, floods, and storm surges). Identifying the specific attribute and degree of improvement/resistance available for forest tree species allows silviculture practitioners the ability to choose the seed source most appropriate (climatically and genetically suitable) for meeting their management objectives (e.g. forest productivity, forest health). Below is a table that describes the genetic worth trait codes found in SPAR, and their meaning and interpretation.

Comparison to Local or Wild Populations

Genetic Worth values are based on measurements taken in research trials in comparison to that of wild or local populations. A ‘benchmark’ is used to describe the level of animal browse, growth performance, wood quality, disease resistance, or insect resistance observed (reported) in the local or wild population.

A benchmark is generally expressed as a percentage (e.g., 30% of live trees; 50% of seedlings free from weevil attack). For example, the level of resistance or tolerance due to Swiss needle cast (reference age, 10 to 15 years) is an estimated 50% in coastal Douglas-fir natural stands growing in mid to high hazard areas. 

Genetic worth trait codes in SPAR

Genetic worth (GW) code	Trait description	Metric	Applicable tree species	Wildstand population benchmark	Reference age
AD	Animal browse resistance (deer)	Percentage of crown retention	Cw	50%	Trees age 6 to 12 years1
AD comments	Breeding values and genetic worth predict average ‘whole-tree’ browsing that will happen, based on the concentration of terpenes in the foliage; realized gain trials have confirmed good relationship to this, but this will be updated as more data comes in (e.g., foliage toughness).
DFS	Disease resistance for Dothistroma needle blight	Percentage of crown retention	Pli	50%	Trees age 5 to 15 years
DFS comments	Crown retention’ breeding values for dothistroma resistance, present in the tests that were scored in high hazard areas. This was scored by how many whorls at mid-height in the tree are retaining needles (as a %).
DFU	Disease resistance for Redcedar leaf blight	Percentage of crown retention	Cw	50%	Seedlings age 2 to 5 years
DFU comments	Crown retention’ breeding values with cedar leaf blight resistance/tolerance, present in the tests that were scored in high hazard areas; expressed as percentages of crown affected: -100 (absolutely 0 resistance compared to wildstand) to 100 (essentially perfect resistance). Therefore, the higher the number, the better the resistance. DFU values will be changed later, to the benchmark of 50% (tentative, early 2024)
DFW	Disease resistance Swiss needle cast	Percentage of crown retention	Fdc	50%	Trees age 15 to 25 years 3
DFW comments	‘Crown retention’ breeding values with Swiss needle cast resistance/tolerance, present in the tests (age 15-25 years) that were scored in mid to high hazard areas; scored on a 0-10 scale then expressed as percentages.
DSB	Disease resistance for white pine blister rust	Percentage of live trees 2, 3	Pw	30%	Trees age 10 to 20 years
DSB comments	'Percent live trees’ breeding values and GW were determined with field testing, from ages 10-20; analysis was done using binary (0-dead/1-alive) scoring;  (Note: differs from the other diseases we are currently scoring). The major gene is factored in the scoring now.  Benchmark is 30% (i.e., wild-stand seed is expected to have ~30% live trees by ages 10-20 years)
DSC	Disease resistance for Commandra blister rust	Percentage of live trees 3	Pli	50%	Trees age 10 to 30 years
DSC comments	'Percent live trees’ breeding values and GW were determined with field testing, from ages 10-15; analysis was done using binary (0-dead/1-alive) scoring.
DSG	Disease resistance Western gall rust	Percentage of trees 3	Pli	50%	Trees age 10 to 20 years
DSG comments	'Percent trees without stem galls’ breeding values and GW scores were determined with field testing, at age 10-20; analysis was done using binary (0/1) scoring (based on stem galls/cankers).
GVO	Volume growth	Percentage of volume growth	Cw, Dr, Ep, Fdc, Fdi, Hw, Lw, Pli, Py, Ss, Sx	0	At harvest rotation age
GVO comments	Percentage volume gain (compared to wildstand) expected at an index age near harvest (Coast, 60 years; Interior, 80 years).
IWS	Spruce terminal weevil	Percentage of live trees 3	Sx, Ss	Sx - 30% Ss - 50%	Trees age 6 to 12 years
IWS comments	Breeding values and GW scores for Sitka spruce predict the chances a ‘tree will not have terminal leader damage’ (average over two years); analysis was done on field tested trees naturally or artificially inoculated with weevils at age 6-12 in the field; realized gain trials confirm this level of resistance; e.g., for Ss, +87 means that 87% of the trees will not be attacked. Benchmark is 30% for Ss (i.e., wild-stand seed will only have 30% trees not damaged). Interior spruce breeding values predict the chances a tree will have terminal damage every year; analysis was done on field tested trees naturally infected in genetic tests at ages 10-20 years, or artificially inoculated with weevils at 3 years of age in raised bed trails; realized gain trials confirm this level of resistance.  Benchmark for Sx is 50%.
WWD	Wood quality	Wood density measured in grams/cm	Fdc	0	Core samples from trees age 10 to 20 years 4
WDU	Wood durability	Percentage of alpha-thujone in heart wood	Cw	0	Composite of thujaplicins and lignans 5

¹ lack of “whole tree” browsing based on the concentration of terpenes in the foliage
² not killed by rust; or, free from stem galls or weevil attack
³ major gene resistant (MGR) cones = MGR female X resistant male
⁴ using volume displacement; or, surrogate density measures with a drill (Resistograph)
⁵ and other compounds

The Forestry Suite of Applications (FSA) Modernization Program comprises four teams. Teams are working to modernize the FSA with new digital products and services. The mission is to:

• Develop sustainable and modern digital services that support government's forest-based initiatives
• Align the ministry's digital products and services with its priorities, and
• Meet the needs of Indigenous people, industry partners, NR ministries, and the public.

FSA teams are using service design (YouTube), Agile (YouTube) and user experience (UX) (Wikipedia) to ensure what we build meets users' needs. The FSA team has undertaken extensive service design with SPAR users both inside and outside of government. The team has also mapped the applications’ current states, identified pain points, and recognized functions that need to improve. It’s also developed prototypes and business logic. Watch this SPAR demonstration video (YouTube) to see how the design system will improve the user experience.

If you would like to participate in SPAR user feedback and prototype testing sessions, please sign up here.

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