The white oak tree improvement program supports the goals of the White Oak Initiative and it supports the goals of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits.

Development of improved white oak supports the White Oak Initiative by setting up a research infrastructure to answer a wide variety of white oak genetic variation questions associated with traits that have economic and ecological value. The improvement program will also provide a sustainable supply of high-quality white oak genetic material via acorns and seedlings. Knowledge gained and material available from the improvement program will increase our ability to conserve and restore white oaks to achieve a variety of ecological, conservation and economic goals at regional and national levels.

To achieve these goals, white oak acorns were collected from throughout its geographic range.  The acorns were grown in a nursery and then outplanted into 23 provenance/progeny tests to evaluate local adaptation, genetic diversity patterns, superiority in a variety of traits, and expression of specific DNA sequences.

Additionally, scion material collected from superior parent trees based on progeny test results will be used to create grafted seed orchards. Seed orchards provide acorns for improved white oak and they can also be used to breed for specific traits such as insect and disease resistance traits that will support ecological success in the forest and for traits that will provide increased economic value of wood products.

White oak germplasm archived in the progeny tests and grafted seed orchards will be available to academic research and industry development projects.