, 2013). Another useful approach is to conduct assisted migration on assemblages of species with positive interactions that reduce climate risks. For example, a “first-stage” species may be planted as a nurse crop to provide protection from temperature extremes for a second tree. Such an approach has been applied to Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. et Cham., using the leguminous shrub Lupinus Crizotinib order elegans Kunth as a nurse plant for seedlings ( Blanco-García et al., 2011). Within species, assisted gene flow, where

genes are exchanged between populations by moving individuals or gametes, has also the potential to control and reduce mal-adaptation ( Aitken and Whitlock, 2013). Climate change-related traits including plasticity and adaptation to increased drought need to be incorporated more actively into breeding programs (IUFRO, 2006). Many existing provenance

trials were established before the need to respond to large scale anthropogenic environmental change was considered an important research issue and the traits measured have therefore often not been the most important ones from this perspective. Nevertheless, information from old trials can be reinterpreted in the context of climate threats (Aitken et al., 2008 and Alberto et al., 2013). New GS-7340 solubility dmso trials established to assess explicit responses to climate change are being established in a number of countries (see, e.g., http://treebreedex.eu/). Traits needed to respond to different climatic conditions not often considered previously in breeding include: • Pest and disease resistance: As noted above (Section 4), climate-change-mediated increases in pest and disease attack are a crucial issue in commercial forestry. To date, one of the most extensive programmes to develop trees with resistance

to insect pests in temperate regions is in British Columbia ( Alfaro et al., 2013 and King and Alfaro, 2009). Using a conventional breeding approach, Picea sitchensis genotypes with resistance to the white pine weevil were screened and deployed in reforestation programmes ( Alfaro et al., 2013 and Moreira et al., 2012). Such traits may be controlled by only a few loci as a result of gene-for-gene co-evolution (sensu Thompson and Burdon, 1992), as already described (Section 4.1), making Morin Hydrate breeding easier. At a strategic level, the feasibility of classical breeding approaches as a response to climate change needs to be considered. Yanchuk and Allard (2009) reviewed 260 activities for pest and disease breeding in trees, and found relatively few examples where resistant or tolerant material had been developed and deployed operationally. They concluded that future programs to tackle increased pest and disease incidence caused by rapid climate change were likely to have limited success if they relied on conventional breeding approaches (but see the case in this section above on P.