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A GIFT SEED

Presentations

Connecting Research and the Industry in Year 1

Part of the A GIFT SEED mission is to educate growers, consumers, and other members of the field on research progress and steps taken towards reaching the A GIFT SEED objectives and goals as the project progresses.

Members of the team from several universities have already given several invited and selected talks, as well as poster presentations. Members of the A GIFT SEED team have been invited to share progress at meetings with boards of growers and leaders in the U.S. Christmas tree industry, university department meetings, workshops, breeding consortiums, conferences, and seminar series.

A total of forty-one presentations have been given by members of the A GIFT SEED team since the start of the project, with many more to come moving forward in 2026. See the list below for more information and details on talks and presentations given over the course of Year 1.

Presentations

  • Invited Talk, A. Devihalli* & Whitehill J.G.A. Advances in understanding Phytophthora root rot infection on Fraser fir. North Carolina Christmas Tree Association. Boone, NC, USA (August 2025; 1 hr; 100 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. ‘A GIFT SEED’ Year 1 – Summer 2025 Update. North Carolina Christmas Tree Association. Boone, NC, USA (August 2025; 1 hr; 100 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. How the ‘A GIFT SEED’ project will advance the US Christmas tree industry. 2025 National Christmas Tree Association Annual Meeting combined with the Michigan Christmas Tree Association and Mid-America Christmas Tree Association Summer Meetings. Cadillac, MI, USA (July 2025; 1 hr; 900 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Conifer genetic research – A GIFT SEED. Exotic Conifer Association 2025 Annual Meeting. Cadillac, MI, USA (July 2025; 15 min; 40 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Genetic resistance of firs to Phytophthora and future management options. Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York. Fabius, NY, USA (July 2025; 1 hr; 50 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. The A GIFT SEED grant. Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York. Fabius, NY, USA (July 2025; 1 hr; 50 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Sai Karthik* & Whitehill J.G.A. Mechanisms of resistance/susceptibility in fir against elongate hemlock scale (EHS). Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Genetics Group Annual Meeting. Raliegh, NC, USA (June 2025; 15 min; 40 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Estefania Elorriaga* & Whitehill J.G.A. Research Projects Overview. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Genetics Group Annual Meeting. Raliegh, NC, USA (June 2025; 15 min; 40 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Adarsha Devihall* & Whitehill J.G.A. Deciphering the resistant mechanisms against Phytophthora root rot (PRR) in fir (Abies spp.) trees. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Genetics Group Annual Meeting. Raliegh, NC, USA (June 2025; 15 min; 40 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program overview. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Genetics Group Annual Meeting. Raliegh, NC, USA (June 2025; 15 min; 40 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Integration of genomic improvement approaches to solve real-world problems and preserve forest trees for the future. IUFRO 8th International Workshop on Resistance Mechanisms & Breeding in Forest Trees. Vernon, BC, Canada (June 2025; 15 min; ~100 ppl).
  • Selected Talk, Sai Karthik, Estefania Elorriaga*, & Whitehill J.G.A. Constitutive and inducible defense responses in Fraser fir and other Abies spp. to phytohormone treatment. IUFRO 8th International Workshop on Resistance Mechanisms & Breeding in Forest Trees. Vernon, BC, Canada (June 2025; 15 min; ~100 ppl).
  • Selected Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. & A. Devihalli. A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing, Economics, Extension & Diagnostics & PRR in North Carolina. IUFRO 8th International Workshop on Resistance Mechanisms & Breeding in Forest Trees. Vernon, BC, Canada (June 2025; 15 min; ~100 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program Overview. NC State Plant Breeding Consortium. Raleigh, NC, USA (April 2025; 1 hr; 60 ppl).
  • Flash Talk, Devihalli A.*, A. Chiang, Whetten R., & Whitehill J.G.A. Deciphering fir (Abies spp.) resistance mechanisms against Phytophthora root rot in fir (Abies spp.) trees. NCSU Plant Breeding Consortium Spring Retreat 2025. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (April 2025).
  • Poster presentation, Sai Karthik Gade, Priya Rajarapu, Angela Chiang & Justin G. A. Whitehill. Mechanisms of resistance/susceptibility in Fraser fir against elongate hemlock scale (EHS). 86th Annual Southern Section American Society of Plant biologists (SS-ASPB) meeting. Raleigh, NC. March 28-30, 2025.
  • Poster presentation, Devihalli A.*, A. Chiang, Kohlway W., Whetten R., & Whitehill J.G.A. Genomic resource development for a highly aggressive isolate of Phytophthora cinnamomi that threatens the survival of endangered Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Southern Section Meeting 2025. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (March 2025).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Disease Resistant Exotic Christmas Trees. NCDA New and Emerging Crops program 2025 grants review Meeting. Raleigh, NC, USA (March 2025; 20 min; 100 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing, Economics, Extension & Diagnostics. North Carolina Christmas Tree Association Winter Meeting. Boone, NC, USA (March 2025; 1 hr; 100 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Phytophthora root rot of Fraser fir in North Carolina. Ashe County Christmas Tree Association Winter Meeting. Webinar on Phytophthora in Nurseries. Quebec Ministry of Agriculture. Zoom (February 2025; 1 hr; 75 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing, Economics, Extension & Diagnostics – Forest Genetics Section. Ashe County Christmas Tree Association Winter Meeting. West Jefferson, NC, USA (January 2025; 1 hr; 80 ppl).
  • Presentation, Whitehill J.G.A. Setting the stage with an overview of Objective 1 for the USDA-NIFA SCRI A GIFT SEED project. The A GIFT SEED Kickoff meeting 2025. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (January 2025).
  • Presentation, Whitehill J.G.A. History and overview of the USDA-NIFA SCRI A GIFT SEED project. The A GIFT SEED Kickoff meeting 2025. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (January 2025).
  • Chalk talk, Sai Karthik Gade*, Priya Rajarapu, Macaire Yuen, Ross Whetten, Angela Chiang & Justin G. A. Whitehill. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance in Fraser fir against elongate hemlock scale. A GIFT SEED KICK OFF meeting, Raleigh, NC, USA (January 2025).
  • Poster presentation and Chalk talk, Devihalli A.*, A. Chiang, Kohlway W., Whetten R., & Whitehill J.G.A. Genomic resource development for a highly aggressive isolate of Phytophthora cinnamomi that threatens survival of endangered Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). The A GIFT SEED Kickoff meeting 2025. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (January 2025).
  • Invited Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. Collaborations to solve urgent challenges. ASPB Plantae Presents – Climate Extremes and Plant Sciences: Balancing Innovation with Environmental Stewardship. American Society of Plant Biologists Zoom Plantae Seminar Series. (January 2025).
  • Poster presentation, Devihalli A.*, A. Chiang, Kohlway W., Whetten R., Whitehill J.G.A. Genomic resource development for a highly aggressive isolate of Phytophthora cinnamomi that threatens survival of endangered Fraser fir (Abies fraseri).Plant & Animal Genome Conference 2025, San Diego, California, USA. (January 2025).
  • Selected Talk, Whitehill J.G.A. A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing, Economics, Extension & Diagnostics – Forest Genetics Section. Plant & Animal Genome Conference 2025, San Deigo, California, USA (January 2025).
  • Invited Talk, J. G. A. Whitehill. Christmas Tree Improvement (https://youtu.be/XrL9r60tUkw?si=8UbwFjiCmy-2ziPk). J.C. Raulston Arboretum Garden Conversation Series. Raleigh, NC, USA (December 2024).
  • Invited Talk, J. G. A. Whitehill. A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing, Economics, Extension & Diagnostics. FER Seminar Series. Raleigh, NC, USA (November 2024; 1 hr; 20 ppl).
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. 2024. Climate-induced stress and root diseases in PNW Christmas tree plantations. 69th Western International Forest Disease Work Conference. Sant Fe, NM. Sept. 11, 2024
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G. 2024. Summary of Christmas tree research activities at WSU Puyallup. WSDA CT Advisory Meeting, Olympia, WA. October 9, 2024.
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G. 2024. Overview of ornamental and Christmas tree research at WSU. NCERA 224 Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC. October 21, 2024.
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. 2024. Climate-induced stress and root diseases in PNW Christmas tree plantations. 23rd Ornamental Workshop on Insects and Diseases, Raleigh, NC. October 22-24, 2024
  • Invited Talk, Elliott, M., and G. Chastagner, G. 2024. Rice paddies and other techniques for Phytophthora root disease screening. 23rd Ornamental Workshop on Insects and Diseases, Raleigh, North Carolina, Oct. 22-24, 2024.
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. 2025. Keys to Managing Phytophthora Root Rot in Christmas Tree Plantations. RCTB Webinar. Jan 28, 2025.
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. 2025. Susceptibility of Eurasian Firs to Common Northwest Insect Pests and Diseases. PNWCTA Short Course, Portland, OR. Feb. 21, 2025
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G. 2025. New Christmas tree research activities at WSU Puyallup. WSDA CT Advisory Meeting, Olympia, WA. April 16, 2025.
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G. Postharvest handling of cut trees. MCTA/NCTA National Summer Meeting tour stop. Lake City, MI. July 25-26, 2025
  • Demonstration and Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. Demonstration of environmental monitoring equipment and discussion of irrigation scheduling to prevent seedling mortality, and prediction of conditions suitable for the development of Phytophthora root disease. PNWCTA Christmas Tree and Farm Showcase. Oregon City, OR. August 14, 2025
  • Invited Talk, Chastagner, G., and M. Elliott. 2025. WSU Christmas Tree Phytophthora Research. Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Emerging Phytophthora disease on Christmas trees workshop and tour. Hatley/Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley, Quebec. August 21-22, 2025.