12/15/2008

Associated Press

Christmas tree farmers in the North Carolina mountains are experimenting with trees from Turkey that they hope will help in the fight against a damaging pathogen.

A destructive rot called Phytophthora infects the roots of thousands of Fraser firs grown on mountain slopes every year, causing up to $6 million in damage, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Monday.

The rot also leaves the soil unsuitable for other trees.

Researchers say they have discovered a Turkish fir tree that appears to have better resistance to the disease. The trees also tolerate heat better.

Christmas trees are a big industry in the state. North Carolina-grown trees are among the decorations this year at the White House.

Agriculture officials say about 50 million Fraser firs are grown in the state, which is second only to Oregon for the number of Christmas trees harvested.

North Carolina tree farmers are experimenting with more than 50,000 Turkish firs.

Avery County tree grower Jack Wiseman Jr. said he has planted 1,000 of the Turkish trees that he hopes will be ready to harvest in seven years.

"They are a really pretty tree," Wiseman said. "It's really dark green and has a little bigger needle than the Fraser."

Wiseman said he has lost about 15 acres of trees to rotten roots, mostly since two hurricanes drenched the mountains with nearly 50 inches of rain in 2004.

"We had marketable trees that died even before we were able to cut them that year," Wiseman said.

Researchers at N.C. State University also have identified a Japanese Momi fir as a possible replacement for the Fraser fir.

N.C. state tree geneticist John Frampton said the heat resistance of the Turkish trees could expand the area where crops can be grown. Fraser firs typically are grown at altitudes of 3,000 feet and higher and one Turkish variety can grow as low as 1,450 feet.