Project Updates
Year 1 Progress
Project Outreach and Products
The primary target audience that the A GIFT SEED project team focused on engaging during the 1st reporting period of September 1st, 2024 – August 31st, 2025 were Christmas tree growers located across the US and in Canada. In reaching this target audience, the A GIFT SEED team published eleven articles in industry trade journals and held four extension outreach events/workshops.
Several publications were also produced over the course of Year 1, including three refereed scientific journal publications and eleven stakeholder publications. For more information on Year 1 scientific journal publications, visit our Publications page.
Members of the A GIFT SEED team also participated in several public outreach events, giving invited talks, chalk talks, and flash talks, presenting research posters, and speaking about project research in media interviews, all to keep growers and consumers informed on the exciting and vital work being done for the Christmas tree industry under the project’s funding.
For information on research updates by objective, visit our Objectives 1-5 pages.
A Note from the Project Director, from “March 2026 Updates and Year 2 Goals”
“Dear members of the A GIFT SEED project IMPACT advisory board,
The first year of the project has come and gone and we are well into our second year. Progress was a little slow at the beginning of year 1 mainly due to logistics related to how we navigate and coordinate amongst multiple institutions, growers and government partners. However, I think we have finally hit our stride and progress is beginning to compound. I’ve provided a summary of our year 1 accomplishments below as was reported this past fall to USDA-NIFA. Please review and reach out with any specific questions.
Additionally, for year 2, an important goal for the IMPACT board in 2026 would be to begin the process of identifying 1-2 farms per region (NC, MI, and PNW) that would be interested in participating in a study that utilizes the genotyping tools we are developing to help accelerate the breeding process for Fraser and Noble fir. To be a suitable participant, farms would need to meet the following criteria.
1. Grow Fraser or Noble fir;
2. Seed sources should be known;
3. Seed orchards that produced the trees on the farm should be accessible and samples can be taken for DNA analysis; and
4. Should have 1000-2000 trees growing on their farm that can all be traced back to the original seed orchard.
In return, growers will receive genetic and phenotype information regarding the performance of the seed orchard trees from which the seedlings are derived. The A GIFT SEED project team would only request access to the trees (both trees grown on the farm AND the seed orchard parent trees) for research purposes.
We are aiming to target between 3 – 6 individual farms across the US that would be willing to work with the project team in order to beta test our molecular tools. Dr. Whitehill will work closely with Mr. Freeman to make a final decision regarding selection of farms to be included in the study.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by phone (919) 515-5851 or email, [email protected].
Sincerely,
Justin G. A. Whitehill, PhD
A GIFT SEED Project Director, Assistant Professor and Director of the NC State University Christmas Tree Genetics program”
Goals for Year 2
Objective 1
We plan to complete sequencing runs and have well-defined draft genome sequences for momi, Trojan, and noble fir. We will generate and scaffold final Fraser fir assemblies to chromosome-scale contiguity. We plan to complete momi fir genome assembly and scaffolding using HiFi and Hi-C data. Complete all remaining species to provide high quality reference genomes. Conduct structural annotation using EASEL and functional annotation through EnTAP (all genomes). We will begin comparative genomic analyses across fir species to identify conserved and divergent features related to adaptation and disease resistance. Continue training of project personnel in methylation analysis and variant detection pipelines. A genotyping panel for the Fraser fir complex (Fraser/balsam/Canaan) will be available by the end of year 2 and preliminary testing and pedigree reconstructions of extant Christmas tree plantations are expected to be in progress. We also plan to have regenerated plantlets of momi, Trojan and Fraser fir by the end of year 2 for somatic embryogenesis.
Objective 2
We plan to conduct assessments of genotypic variation in morpho-physiological traits of various populations of Abies species. Populations will include progeny of open-pollinated Fraser fir seed orchard families (MSU and NC State); Abies species trial at MSU Tree Research Center; fir species and Trojan fir families at Kellogg Forest and western North Carolina trees; and present preliminary results from field and greenhouse trials at International Christmas Tree Research and Extension conference June 2026 hosted by PD Whitehill and the NC State Christmas tree genetics program in Blowing Rock, NC. We also plan to complete the optimization and testing of the P. cinnamomi LAMP assay. The LAMP assay will also be tested against the other Phytophthora species that have been recently collected from Fraser fir in NC. The 6 species identified include P. cactorum, P. cinnamomi, P. citricola, P. cryptogea, P. europaea, and P. plurivora, with P. cinnamomi being the most prevalent. For the Pacific Northwest, we plan to initiate temperature studies with Phytophthora spp. from Abies hosts to determine maximum, minimum, and optimal temperatures for growth, sporulation, zoospore differentiation, and zoospore release. The PNW will also Continue pathology field trials in progress begin drought stress trials for Abies spp. Gene discovery for genes involved in climate, insect, Phytophthora, and deer browse resilience will continue to be identified by PD Whitehill and the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program.
Objective 3
We plan to conduct consumer aroma sensory panels in the fall of 2025 on both the west (WSU) and east (UF) coasts to assess consumer preferences across the US. Data will be analyzed to understand the influence of Christmas tree species and terpene profiles on consumer acceptance, as well as the other drivers of consumers acceptance of Christmas trees. We are also planning to conduct 2 sensory tests that will compare different species of Christmas trees, as well as post-harvest changes in the acceptability of Christmas trees. Consumer information will be evaluated relating to the impacts and perceptions of genetic interventions. The Zerbe lab plans to continue to integrate genome and transcriptome mining (using newly developed genome and transcriptome resources for Fraser fir and other focal species) with combinatorial enzyme functional studies to biochemically characterize aroma- and defense-related terpene synthases and cytochrome P450 enzymes. The Zerbe lab will further contribute to the design and implementation of sensory panels and the analysis of metabolic profiles of test samples. Furthermore, alterations in terpenoid metabolism in response to deer browsing and pathogen attack will be analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS analysis of stress-treated trees and control samples.
Objective 4
We plan to expand the techno-economic analysis, continue outreach to other universities for Christmas tree cultivation in other states to assess regional differences, perform a multi-scenario modeling for nursery and plantation production of Christmas trees, and finally integrating genetic improvements into economic models
Objective 5
We plan to continue with engagement and outreach activities. New Objective 5 lead (Dr. Priya Rajarapu, Oregon State University) will work closely with other project leaders to help develop Extension related materials and disseminate project findings to industry stakeholders. A nationwide needs assessment is planned for year 2. We also plan to release a podcast that will highlight the A GIFT SEED project and share our progress to date.
