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Published: 20 December 2010

Less land required for high yield timber


CSIRO scientists have identified 11 naturally occurring genetic markers that increase pulp yield and growth rate in eucalypts. The discovery will substantially improve the productivity and sustainability of plantation forestry.

Nine-month-old <i>E. nitens</i> trial showing rapid growth.
Nine-month-old E. nitens trial showing rapid growth.
Credit: Dean Williams, Forestry Tasmania

Led by Dr Simon Southerton, Principle Research Scientist at CSIRO Plant Industry, the ‘Hottest 100’ project examined ~100 genes known to be involved in wood production, from three different shining gum (Eucalyptus nitens) research plantations in Tasmania. Shining gum is one of Australia’s most important plantation timbers, and its pulp is used to produce high-quality paper.

Dr Southerton’s team identified 11 molecular markers associated with pulp yield and growth rate.

'With just six markers out of possibly several dozen we have shown that we can increase pulp yield by over two per cent and growth rate by 10 per cent,' he says.

'This will translate into a substantial increase in plantation productivity, as millions of tonnes of pulp are produced globally each year from eucalypt plantations. Less land and fewer resources will be required to produce the same amount of pulp, as the trees produce quality pulp more efficiently.'

Dr Southerton believes that other closely related eucalypt species might carry similar markers that can also be harnessed to improve productivity.

‘These trees have great economic importance around the world. This research will help breeders develop trees with better growth [and] pulp yield, and better adapted to specific climate zones,’ he says.

The Hottest 100 work was carried out in collaboration with Gunns Ltd and Forestry Tasmania, with support from Forest and Wood Products Australia.






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