Radiata Pine

Guadalupe Hybrid

Guadalupe Island is situated off the coast of Mexico and has one of the five small native populations of Pinus radiata that is known as Guadalupe.

Compared to "New Zealand" radiata, Guadalupe radiata typically has the following characteristics:

Thinner bark
Superior straightness but less vigour
Higher wood density but slightly increased spiral grain
Flatter pith to bark density gradient
Improved resistance to toppling
Tidy branch habit and possibly more resistant to snow damage
Frost tolerant

We produce a radiata x Guadalupe hybrid seedlot that aims to combine the good growth of NZ radiata with the advantages of pure Guadalupe radiata. Radiata parents chosen for good growth and low spiral grain are crossed with Guadalupe pollen to make the hybrid.

Several trials have been established around NZ. Although assessments have yet to be completed, early results have been encouraging. Diameter and height growth is the same or better than NZ radiata, wood density is improved and pith to bark wood density gradient is flatter.

There is increasing interest in using hybrids on sites that may be marginal for pure radiata pine establishment. We still have small quantities of P. attenuata x P. radiata (known as KMX hybrid in the US) and the P.radiata x P. radiata var. cedrosensis (radiata x cedros). We are offering 1000 seed lots to foresters to try particularly in drier country where Dothistoma needle blight may not be a problem. Contact us if you are interested in trying these.

While we don't see hybrids as a replacement for New Zealand radiata, we think they represent a good alternative in some situations, for example, highly fertile and/or exposed sites. Incorporating Guadalupe radiata into our forest estate to increase the genetic diversity of our exotic forests is also a good risk management strategy. Our hybrid seedlots will improve more as new breeding information becomes available