282 ROBERT Z. CALLAHAM 



Anyone who has tried to obtain materials from other regions, parti- 

 cularly from other nations or continents, knows the problems very well. 

 In many cases, the species that one desired is not well known in its 

 native land, or one may not know the persons who are most knowledgeable 

 about the species. Potential seed collectors are often completely 

 unknown outside their local areas. Very often skilled collectors of seed 

 or pollen are not available. Those able and willing to make collections 

 may not have the resources to fill one's needs. Funds may not be avail- 

 able. Barriers to international monetary exchange may preclude providing 

 funds. Equipment for cone or fruit collection, seed or pollen extrac- 

 tion may not be available or may not even exist in the country. 



Unfavorable national attitudes may also stand between the breeder 

 and the materials he wants. In some cases, political curtains preclude 

 all communications. A few countries have prohibited exporting any seed 

 of certain species to protect future national interests in forest produc- 

 tion. Hopefully, such obstacles will dissolve before too long. 



International quarantines often pose a very large, but never an 

 insurmountable obstacle. Breeders must recognize the risks and poten- 

 tial losses from international transfer of diseases or insect pests. 

 Risks of introducing a foreign disease are particularly high when vegeta- 

 tive reproductive material like seedlings, cuttings, or even pollen must 

 be transported. Whenever possible, germ plasm should be transmitted as 

 seed with appropriate sanitary procedures. The International Association 

 of Plant Quarantine Officials constantly strives to improve procedures 

 for detecting and preventing the transmission of undesirable diseases and 

 pests. However, they also recognize the great importance of introducing 

 valuable forest tree germ plasm. 



Most officials have shown a willingness to cooperate in arranging 

 for needed movements of forest tree materials. As yet, I have not 

 encountered an insurmountable quarantine problem. Preplanning is the 

 key to avoiding problems. Anyone contemplating international movement 

 of plant material should carefully investigate the quarantine requirements 

 of both the exporting and the importing countries. All potential problems 

 should be solved to the satisfaction of the officials and the tree breeder, 

 Only then should collections and shipments start. 



In this country, introductions of potentially diseased vegetative 

 material can be expedited by growing the material under post-entry 

 quarantine until officials are satisfied that no diseases or insects 

 have been introduced. Where quarantine facilities are neither suitable 

 nor available for the handling of a particular introduction, facilities 

 with an adequate safeguard can be developed inexpensively. Introductions 

 of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi can pose a serious problem because of 

 hazards of introducing soil or tree roots infected with dangerous orga- 

 nisms. This problem can best be solved by growing and importing desirable 

 fungi in pure culture. 



