Eucalypt Domestication and Breeding

Fast-growing eucalypts help to meet the demand for wood throughout the warmer parts of the world. They are grown in numberous small woods and windbreaks to produce poles and firewood, and in extensive plantations mainly for the pulp and paper industries. This book shows how to breed improved eucalypts that will provide more and better wood on appropriate sites selected through sound land use planning. The emphasis is on making greater use of the immense richness of the genetic resources of the eucalypts, especially in the first generation or two of domestication `wild' eucalypts for wood production. The book covers those aspects of variation, selection, and reproduction that are unique to eucalypts. Large gains in production and quality can be obtained relatively cheaply by choosing the best geographic seed sources (provenances). Once suitable base populations have been assembled, continued long-term genetic gain can be assured through well-planned recurrent selection and mating.This book is essential reading for practising foresters managing eucalypt plantations, and will also be of great interest to planners and administrators in aid agencies.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1: Eucalypts natural and planted 2: Genetic resources of eucalypts 3: Matching species and provenances to site 4: Testing species and provenances 5: Eucalyptus camaldulensis 6: Eucalyptus deglupta 7: Eucalyptus delegatensis 8: Eucalyptus fastigata 9: Eucalyptus globulus 10: Eucalyptus grandis and E. saligna 11: Eucalyptus nitens 12: Eucalyptus obliqua 13: Eucalyptus regnans 14: Eucalyptus tereticornis 15: Eucalyptus urophylla 16: Eucalyptus viminalis 17: Breeding strategies and breeding plans 18: Reproductive biology of eucalypts 19: Selection and breeding 20: Seed production 21: Mass vegetative propagation 22: Looking ahead Glossary References Index

Review :
`Eucalypt domestication and breeding, is important and it is doubly so because of the breadth and depth of the experience of its well-known authors who, together with Arne Brune, conceived the idea when the IUFRO Working Party on eucalypts was formed in 1977 ... the authors have come up with a nice balance of chapters ... A great deal of very useful practical advice on breeding and seed production techniques is given ... Overall the book not only contains a large amount of very useful information and stimulating discussion, it is also a delight to read for the story it tells. Although this book will be an important addition to any forestry library, it is, as the authors say, directed very much towards the practising tree breeder; he or she and many others will benefit from having a copy for easy reference and to dip into for the many fascinating bits of information that are contained in it. ' R.D. Barnes, Commonwealth Forestry Review Volume 73 (2), 1994 `The book should be of lasting value, not only to practicing breeders but to anyone wishing to appreciate the perspective of a group of scientists actively involved in the exciting task of bringing a major genus of plants 'in from the wild' for the first time.' A.R.Griffin, Forestry Specialist, Shell Petroleum Company, Partners in Research for Development, Number 7, May 1994 `The quality of diagrams and the rich supply of illustrative photographs make reading a pleasure whilst the list of reference is highly impressive ... I'm sure all forestry universities, research stations and overseas consultants will find it invaluable.' Steve J. Lee, Forestry, Vol. 67, No. 4, 1994 `The book should be of lasting value, not only to practicing breeders but to anyone wishing to appreciate the perspective of a group of scientists actively involved in the exciting task of bringing a major genus of plants 'in from the wild' for the first time.' A.R. Griffin, Partners in Research for Development, Number 7, May 1994 `Essential reading for all foresters concerned with Eucalypts.' Agroforestry News