NRRI’s nationally renowned hybrid poplar breeding program owes its success to the “ground work” (pun intended) done by Bernie McMahon, forestry genetics and tree breeder. His specific area of expertise is in tree improvement.
McMahon’s daily responsibilities include coordination of breeding, testing, and evaluation of new plant germplasm in collaboration with NRRI’s research cooperative members (from both private industry and state agencies). He spends most of his time in the greenhouse, testing pollinations, the establishment of nursery trials and evaluating commercial fiber farm and field plantings.
“Establishing and maintaining a world-class, widely-recognized Populus breeding program, with a very productive and dedicated team of researchers at NRRI, has been a great experience for me,” said McMahon. “It’s fun to surprise others in our field with the size and scope of our program from ‘the little shop that could’!” he said.
McMahon is still hoping to get new plant materials established commercially in Minnesota-based fiber farms or biomass energy plantations.