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8 Arbor Age / September 2014 www.arborage.com INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS populations that can cope with a much warmer and likely drier climate? We just don't know." Strauss called the confi rmation of the bud-break gene — which scientists named EBB1 for short — a "fi rst step" in devel- oping the ability to engineer adaptability into trees in the future. "Having this knowledge enables you to engineer changes when they might become urgent," he said. Yordan Yordanov and Victor Busov at Michigan Tech worked with Cathleen Ma and Strauss at Oregon State to trace the func- tion of EBB1 in buds and other plant tissues responsible for setting forth the fi rst green shoots of spring. They developed modifi ed trees that overproduced EBB1 genes and emerged from dormancy earlier in the year. They also showed that trees with less EBB1 activity emerged from dormancy later. "The absence of EBB1 during dormancy allows the tree to progress through the physiological, developmental and adaptive changes leading to dormancy," said Busov, "while the expression of EBB1 in specifi c cell layers prior to bud-break enables reacti- vation of growth in the cells that develop into shoots and leaves, and re-entry into the active growth phase of the tree." The study began when Strauss noticed poplar trees emerging earlier than others in an experimental fi eld trial at Oregon State. One April morning, he found that four seedling trees in a 2.5-acre test plot were putting forth leaves at least a week before all the other trees. Strauss and Busov, a former post-doctoral researcher at Oregon State, led efforts to identify the genes responsible. They found that EBB1 codes for a protein that helps to restart cell division in a part of the tree known as meristem, which is analogous to stem cells in animals. EBB1 also plays a role in suppressing genes that prepare trees for dormancy in the fall and in other processes such as nutrient cycling and root growth that are critical for survival. Altogether, they found nearly 1,000 other poplar genes whose activity is affected by EBB1. It's unlikely that plant breeders will use the fi nding any time soon, Strauss said. Breeders tend to rely on large clusters of genes that are associated with specifi c traits such as hardi- ness, tree shape or fl owering. However, as more genes of this kind are identifi ed, the opportunity to breed or engineer trees adapted to extreme conditions will grow. Morbark signs Bailey's as tree care products, Boxer equipment dealer Morbark, Inc. has signed a contract adding Bailey's, Inc., as the exclusive Morbark tree care products dealer for North- ern California. Bailey's also becomes a Boxer equipment dis- tributor; all Boxer distributors have non-exclusive territories. "Bailey's is a market leader in the tree care industry, dedicated to offering only top-quality products and deliver- ing exceptional service. By joining forces with Morbark — a company that clearly also shares these values — Bailey's will be able to provide a sensational new level of products and service that will delight our customers," said Jeff McCaffrey, Bailey's president and COO. "Bailey's is well-known among arborists and foresters," said Casey Gross, tree care products sales manager for Morbark. "Over the years, they have built their business on exceptional customer support and high-quality products-just like Morbark has. Bailey's is a great fi t for Morbark's dealer network." Rainbow hires new territory arborist in Mid-Atlantic region Shannon Herbst joined Rainbow Treecare Scientifi c Advancements as Mid-Atlantic territory arborist. She will be working with clients in Virginia, Delaware, southern New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. The Mid-Atlantic region faces a number of tree health- care issues including emerald ash borer, ash anthracnose, Japanese beetle, scales, and mites. Herbst is available to support tree care and landscape professionals in the Mid-Atlantic and provide them with an innovative toolbox approach to tree and plant healthcare management. "We are very excited to have Shannon join the Rainbow team," said Rainbow Treecare Scientifi c Advancements CMO Joel Spies. "She brings years of experience running her own business and has a wealth of knowledge to share with our valued customers." Herbst has more than two decades of experience in the tree care industry. She has owned her own landscaping company in Maryland, specializing in large right-of-way contracts. She also has experience as a sales arborist for a New Jersey-based tree care company. Herbst is a Certifi ed Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture and holds a Business Management degree from Shippensburg University. Princeton Field Guides will publish a set of guides to Trees of North America Trees of Western North America and Trees of Eastern North America from the editorial team of Richard Spellenberg, Christopher J. Earle, and Gil Nelson, and featuring the illus- trations of David More, published on July 30. Taken together, the guides cover all species of native and naturalized trees found in North America (825 in the Eastern guide, 630 in the Western with some overlap). Presenting all the native and naturalized trees of the United States and Canada — including those species found only in tropical and subtropical Florida and northernmost Canada — the books feature superior descriptions; thou- sands of meticulous color paintings by David More that illustrate important visual details; range maps that provide a thumbnail view of distribution for each native species; "Quick ID" summaries; user-friendly layouts; scientifi c and common names; the latest taxonomy; information on the most recently naturalized species; a key to leaves; and an introduction to tree identifi cation, forest ecology, and plant classifi cation and structure.