In fact, seed orchards have inherent limitations in three categories that prevent them from delivering the theoretical improvements that foresters need to meet their business goals:

1. Genetic Variability Problems
As we've mentioned before, seed orchards create new seeds through a process of sexual reproduction. This process, which involves the union of pollen and eggs, results in a zygote (i.e. a fertilized seed embryo). This new zygote has its own, unique genetic code representing traits from both parents.

Unfortunately, while this form of sexual reproduction - which relies on genetic recombination - is fundamental to evolution, it also introduces high levels of variability in the subsequent seedlings and trees. The result, invariably, is a less than ideal seed.

2. Production Problems
For a seed orchard to deliver seeds with the genetic quality and quantity required for reforestation, the seed orchard would have to act as a perfect, closed system.

Moreover, every tree would have to contribute to pollination at the same time, and would have to contribute equally to the gene pool without any outside pollen intrusion.

Needless to say, this is never the case in an open pollinated orchard.

First of all, pollination among trees in an orchard occurs at different times. That's because seed orchard seeds are selected from wide geographic regions, and so are programmed to mate at different times.

Secondly, trees vary significantly both in their pollen and seed production. Typically, 80% of the seeds in an orchard are produced by only 20% of the trees. This prevents seed orchards from attaining ideal and predictable levels of genetic gain.

Finally, all seed orchards are exposed to pollen intrusion and contamination from unselected external sources. In fact, pollen contamination from undesirable outside sources is the norm, and can range from 30-70%.

Another problem caused by contamination is that the resulting seedlings are often maladapted for sites outside their original planting areas. That's because the seedlings were pollinated by sources that were specific to a particular site near the orchard. These specific production problems can be overcome by investing in control pollinated orchards, combined with vegetative propagation. The time and expense involved in such systems is significant.

3. Time Problems
Seed orchards take too long before they can produce appreciable amounts of seeds. In an industry where time is money, this additional delay translates into very substantial losses in gain, as well as productivity and profits (Chart #4).

For a more complete description of these problems, please see the "Science" section. Every technology has its place.

Conventional seed orchards were a dramatic step forward from sowing standard seed. Vegetative propagation, or rooted cuttings, enabled improved seed to be multiplied many times over.

Breeders started improving corn seed in 1938. They're now generated more than 120 generations of genetic improvements to corn. More than 120.

In commercial open pollinated seed orchards, we're working with second generation seed.

This is the potential of CellFor's technology. Good. Better. Best.

Let's take a look at several common seed production methods in use today:

• Open pollinated seed orchards
• Closed pollinated seed orchards
• Vegetative propagation (rooted cuttings)
• Organogenesis