The most popular Christmas tree in America is the Fraser fir. These evergreen trees are mainly grown in their native state of North Carolina and shipped around the country. But climate change has brought periods of higher-than-average temperatures, drought, and heavier rainfall to the region. These weather extremes make young Fraser firs more vulnerable to pests and mold. That’s why scientists from North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program are working to breed more climate-proof firs.
The group is looking at genes—units of hereditary material—of different Fraser firs to find individuals with traits best suited for surviving a changing climate. They’ve established an orchard with the 25 most promising trees and are now analyzing their descendants for climate resilience. Seeds from the genetically improved trees will be given to farmers in the next few years.