Name: NC State researchers work to create the perfect Christmas tree using genetics
Uploaded: 2021-12-02T20:27:19-0500
Duration: 262705
Description: Researchers with North Carolina State University are using genetics to create the perfect Christmas tree -- one that doesn't shed and doesn't need to be watered as often.

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Researchers with North Carolina State University are using genetics to create the perfect Christmas tree -- one that doesn't shed and doesn't need to be watered as often. 

BE SPENT ON >>> WHAT IS YOUR PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE? FOR SOME, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LOOKS. FOR OTHERS, IT MAY BE ABOUT THE SMELL, OR KEEPING THE HOUSE CLEAN. IT TURNS OUT, RESEARCHERS AT NC STATE ARE WORKING TO PERFECT THE HOLIDAY STAPLE. JOINING US NOW IS JUSTIN WHITEHILL. HE IS A PROFESSOR AT NC STATE AND DIRECTS THE CHRISTMAS TREE GENETICS PROGRAM THERE. JUSTIN, TELUS, IS THERE A CLOSE TO PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE AT THE? AND WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO IMPROVE? >> GREAT. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY. OF COURSE, COMING FROM NORTH CAROLINA, THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK DOES EXIST, WHICH IS THE FRASER RIVER, WHICH IS NATIVE TO NORTH CAROLINA. A LOT OF THE TREES WERE INTERESTED IN TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS TREE ATTRACTIVE TO CONSUMERS ARE THINGS LIKE THE AROMA, NEEDLE RETENTION AFTER A TREE HAS BEEN HARVESTED, THE FORM AND THE ABILITY TO HANG ONTO AND HOLD ORNAMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. OF COURSE, THOSE ARE THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN IMPROVE ON IT. NEEDLE RETENTION IS ONE OF THE THINGS OUR PROGRAM HAS REALLY WORKED ON. AND I THINK REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB ALREADY KIND OF SOLVING THAT ISSUE AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE GENETICS AND SOME TREES THAT ARE VERY GOOD AT HANGING ONTO THEIR NEEDLES. PART OF MY PROGRAM NOW IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE TREES AND HELP GROWERS IMPROVE THINGS LIKE PEST RESISTANCE AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. >> SO, HOW DOES THIS WORK? ARE YOU TINKERING WITH THE TREES IN THE LAB? OR JUST REPLICATING THE BEST ALREADY OUT THERE? >> YOU, SO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. REPLICATING THE BEST IS A CHALLENGE. BUT ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS OUR PROGRAM HAS DONE IS WE HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM. SO, WE ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE NATURALLY OCCURRING GENETICS THAT ALREADY EXIST OUT THERE. SO, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF A PHONE BANK HERE, SOME OF THE BEST GENETICS THE FRASER FURTHER OUR PROGRAM HAS IDENTIFIED. FROM THESE BEST GENETICS, WE ARE IDENTIFYING AND MAKING CROSSES OF THE BEST OF THE BEST TO BASICALLY PRODUCE THE BEST CHRISTMAS TREES POSSIBLE FROM THE EXISTING GENETICS. >> JUSTIN, YOU ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIMENTING WITH THE SCENT OF TREES, TOO. I ALREADY THINK OF FRASER FIRST SMELLS PRETTY GREAT. WHY FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BROKEN? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T THINK WE ARE TRYING TO FIX ANYTHING. I THINK WE ARE JUST TRYING TO EXPAND THE OPTIONS THAT EXIST OUT THERE IN NATURE. WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THE PROFILES OF THE DIFFERENT FRASER FOR CHRISTMAS TREES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PROGRAM HERE AT NC STATE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCES AND THE AROMA PROFILES OF THE TREES AND COMPARING THEM TO EACH OTHER. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT CONSUMERS REALLY LIKE FROM THOSE CHEMICAL PROFILES THAT THE TREES NATURALLY EMIT. FROM THOSE NATURAL SELECTIONS, WE ARE WRAL NEWS SELECT THE BEST OF THE BEST AGAIN. AND MAYBE START DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL  CULTIVARS. SO, SOME SPECIES MAY HAVE MORE OF A PINEY, WOODSY SMELL. SOME TREES MAY HAVE MORE OF THE CITRUSY SNOW. WE JUST WANT TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW OPTIONS FOR CONSUMERS TO HAVE OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE. SO, IF YOU LIKE A CITRUSY CHRISTMAS TREE, THAT IS A FRASER FOR. YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT OPTION IN THE FUTURE VERSUS A MORE PINEY OR WOODSY CHRISTMAS TREE. >> -- ARE NORTH CAROLINA TREES THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY? I KNOW THAT WE ARE BIASED, BUT I HEAR THERE IS ALSO SOME SCIENCE TO IT. >> OF COURSE. I THINK FRASER FOR ARE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THAT WEREN'T THE CASE. WHICH IS OF COURSE, FRASER FOR ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR INDUSTRY IN NORTH CAROLINA. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER TREES THAT EASTERN GROWERS GROW THAT ARE ALSO VERY GOOD. THERE IS THINGS LIKE LEYLAND CYPRESS AND VIRGINIA PINE AND SOME OTHER INTERESTING TREES THAT EXIST OUT THERE. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OREGON, AS WELL, WHO HAS NOBLE FOR, WHICH MAYBE DOESN'T SMELL AS NICE TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT YOU KNOW, FRASER FOR HIS SORT OF THE PREEMINENT SPECIES IN THAT REGARD. >> MY MOM ALWAYS INSISTED ON A REAL TREE AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME. I AM SO GLAD SHE DID. NOW MAYBE GROW UP TO REALLY APPRECIATE CHRISTMAS TREES AND THEIR WONDERFUL SMELL AND HOW THEY REALLY PUT YOU IN THE MOOD. JUSTIN WHITEHALL, YOU HAVE THE COOLEST JOB AROUND. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >>> FINDING AND MAINTAINING A

Maggie Brown

NC State researchers work to create the perfect Christmas tree using genetics

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<p>I'm meteorologist, Kat Campbell and the wr a severe weather center, we do have the potential for some additional scattered storms on Friday. There is a level one threat for severe storms. So this is a low threat, but there could be some hail, perhaps some damaging wind gusts. And the primary threat looks to be south and east of Raleigh at this point though Raleigh and really anywhere could see the storms. The timing. I'm thinking between about 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. should be a quiet start to, it's around lunchtime that we begin to see our first storms of the day fire up probably in our southern counties. And then a little bit later in the afternoon, we could see some storms pop up pretty much anywhere. There's a chance that they try to come together as a line in eastern North Carolina toward the coastal plain and the coast. So we'll watch for that potential as well. 81 for the high tomorrow Saturday, some clouds as you're waking up possibly. But we see clearing partly cloudy skies for the afternoon and then we've got this weak disturbance approaching from the northwest. The air is going to dry out significantly over the weekend though. So it's not going to feel this humid, but that should help to limit just how much rain we could see. Saturday evening, I'm only going with about a 20% chance for rain as that swings through. Then for Mother's Day weekend, it is less humid. It's comfortable. It ends up being a beautiful weekend for mom 74 Saturday, 79 on Sunday, Sunday for take an hour by hour. Look 6 a.m. It's in the mid fifties by lunchtime, 70 warming up to 79 for the high and mid seventies at dinner time. It's Mother's Day weekend, meaning we've got a lot of college graduations happening. UN C graduation 7 p.m. 68 degrees. And for the 10 a.m. graduation at Shaw, it should be around 62. We also have MEREDITH College 8, 30 graduation, 55 and for the 11 a.m. 65 Duke graduating on Sunday should be beautiful. 59 at 9 a.m. with more sunshine. Over the next seven days, we've got some ups and downs temperature wise, but no more nine. So we get a break from the big heat. Saturday looking pretty nice. Just that 20% chance for rain. Saturday night, early next week, a quiet start. But as we get into the middle of next week, it's increasingly unsettled with rain and storm chances climbing up to 60% by Tuesday.</p>

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Carolina Hurricanes players and Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour talk about Game 3 on Thursday night against the New York Rangers. 

<p>So, um, it's just, it's just part of it. Um, I think our five on five games been been good and, um, obviously special teams, we need to share that up. And, um, just, yeah, obviously that, that needs to be a focal point moving forward. You got a fine line to walk, you know, wanting to be a physical game with all that but not to take the foolish penalties that give them opportunities. Yeah, I was just luck at last game. We had, uh, uh, most of our penalties are stick penalties. So, um, just need to start checking with your body instead of your stick and, um, I was guilty of one and there was a few other ones. So, uh, you just stay away from those ones and we'll be fine. Do you, do you embrace the pressure of having to come back here down? Two? Oh. And having a chance to maybe push it back the other way if you guys can get it done today. Yeah, I, I had a coach in junior hockey told me you're, you're not this until you lose at home. That's, that's been, he said that and we haven't lost at home. So, um, they, they did their job, they won their two at home. Now it's our turn to do ours and, um, starts with tonight and try and you, you win your games at home and then it goes to uh best of three, but we'll focus on tonight as a leader on the team. How important can your impact and what you and the other leaders do to try and turn the tide here. Um Yeah, I, I honestly, we need to come out and play, play our best games, especially here. This, this needs to be the best game of the series tonight. Obviously, we're, we're down too, so you need to push as hard as you can. And um I don't think any, any of us are gonna change the way we're playing. We just need to find maybe that little bit more and um we'll uh have everybody kind of follow suit but um, you look at Fishy Jordan me slavo every everybody in there. We, we're, we're up for it. So we're, we're looking forward to have you guys said anything to the team, have some kind of player meeting after the first two games. No, no, we haven't done that. I know you guys haven't practiced as a group since prior to game too, but have you talked about changes on the power play? What you can do to generate more shots and find more open works? That's a question for Roddy. I'm not in the power play meeting so well, I spoke after game two about, there's a lot, there's still a lot of belief in your room. Uh, despite how frustrated you guys were, can you speak to that? And, and does that come from the experience? And, and I don't know how, how frustrated we are. If we score in overtime, then we're sitting here 11 and it's, uh, when you guys are asking different questions, it went to double overtime and um, the, and then we're, we're trying to tie it late in game one. It's not like they've come in and completely outplayed us two games. It's, it's, they did their job at home, they scored in overtime to make it 20 and now it's our job to respond. All right. Thanks Marty. Marty. Mhm. Yeah, we like 40 places. It means here we go. Evan's gonna check the LA tonight. That was your range for, uh, earlier in the year. Oh, man, we're gonna bring this place to the ground, burn it down and it's not working now. At least we don't have the batteries anymore. That was for the escape by Martin. I say, you know, a little bit, you're now out to you. Oh, that's good. He had a little bit of Charlie is covering tonight or in the, there's gotta be some kind of like nerve damage or something or like fracture. I don't think, I don't know. You never know, I mean, it depends on what the injury is. I mean, the first thing I thought about what he said, that's what, 78 years, right. I, yeah, why do you decide not to have a skater or practice? Just your call? No, it, you know, tough game the other night. A little more rest. I mean, the morning sheets. I don't know really what you get out of them for me. So, we had our meetings. That's, you know, where, where we can get a little better. This team is so experienced and been through so many different things in the past. Do you even need to say anything? Do any of the players need to step up and kind of say anything before this game or is it just kind of business as usual? Well, I don't know. Yeah, I mean, I think we all understand where we're at in this situation and I don't, I don't think we need to dwell on that. I don't think it's, you know, how can we find that little extra, you know, play here or there? That makes a difference and, you know, uh that, that's really what it's about character as a coaching staff in those meetings. Have you discussed any strategies of how to get the power play going and generate more chances to score? Yeah, I mean, obviously we, we, that's uh an area we wanna get better at. They did a nice job up there and you know, there's, there's areas that we can be better for sure. And, um, you know, we're gonna have to be, obviously we go back to Freddie tonight. Um, yeah. No. Yeah. No, we're gonna go cooch tonight. Um, uh, you made a change in overtime with moving Tony onto the second unit. I was, I didn't know if that was maybe, uh, trying to get more out of the power play or was it more? Maybe not loading up, Shay so much with minutes. Both. Yeah, both. Yeah, I mean, Brady is playing a Ton and Tony, we know we can do it. It's just, you know, we had to get power play all year and Brady was running on that unit, but we know Tony is capable of it. So it's a little bit of both there. You said the change with, with the goalie? Um, well, I think, you know, Freddie's played really well, but he's also played a lot and I think, uh, give him a little rest is the best thing you've said that you're not worried, you never have been worried about couch's ability to step right back in despite knocking the play off. And what has he been doing? Especially the majority of his time. Is it kind of split between watching film and practicing? Is he doing something different? No, just getting ready. Practice. You ready? I mean, he doesn't, I don't know how much film work he does. I mean, it's the goal is just getting himself ready. He does work with Polly, but I mean, at the end of the day it's, I think, uh, you know, he's fresh and hopefully that was a great game. You anticipated, you said yesterday, you anticipated, who is he getting back in? Is that what you're gonna do today? He's fine. Right. Do you see this as a matchup series? Like as far as sometimes there, there are, sometimes there's, they're not for you. Is this a matchup series? And do you have more of an advantage because of that people? Um, yeah, I mean, you have certain game plan going in, you know, certain, you know, maybe guys you wanna play against but it really, um that's, it's, um, yes and no. Uh uh I mean, obviously there's more about um, the d matching up really more than even the floors. But yeah, I mean, we'd love to get our top guys against their top guys. Your estimation is to check out, do anything differently as a goalie playing behind your group. Well, he's got a different demeanor. I mean, that's obvious and he said he's really comical and creature is a little more passionate and, you know, wes his emotions are on his sleeve. But yeah, I know they both pretty good goalies. Coach, a player like this, a tr check for the Rangers who scored in every playoff game so far. I just want to stop them to stop his momentum from getting going. Well, I mean, there's no different game plan for him than anyone else. You gotta do your best when you're out there. And, um, you know, we know him very well. Good player. Uh, so we just can't give him a lot of room obviously. All right, thanks. Yep. Here you are. No, I was wearing these pills. I have been to Starbucks and then we're still 10 minutes by any one. I know you a Star Me? Have a good one. All right. Yeah.</p>

Canes players, coach talk about Game 3 against New York Rangers

Thursday marks a big step for Wilson's new Carolina Mudcats baseball stadium as the town breaks ground on the site downtown. Earlier this year, the city approved $73 million in bond money to build the stadium.

Wilson breaks ground on new Mudcats baseball stadium 

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Good evening, Juan, I'm Brady Trainer. Tonight. We have another life changing jackpot. It's worth a guaranteed $20 million. So, get your tickets ready here. Come tonight. 20 numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 43 right after that America. We have the number 51 and congratulations to Jack Canfield and his son, Todd from Tennessee. They won a million dollars playing powerball all the rest of your winning numbers tonight. 44 7. And we'll round it out tonight with the number 41 and tonight's winning powerball number, that's gonna be five and your power play multiplayer is two. Let's take a look at tonight's winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. Good luck, everyone. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. That works. It's time to play America's favorite.

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NC State researchers work to create the perfect Christmas tree using genetics

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