More than 40 years of professional eucalypt and pine breeding has resulted in a wealth of improved trees, giving the users of this material a competitive advantage in both production yields and wood quality.
Seed exported from the South African eucalypt and pine breeding programmes has proved to be in high demand around the world. The CSIR, which focuses on developing new-generation, genetically-improved eucalypt and pine species and hybrids, has a range of commercialisation options that make the best material available to companies around the world, at competitive prices. These options enable the users to 'fast-track' their plantations, harnessing years of breeding and development to their advantage, in a short time.
Breeders and geneticists in companies are also able to customise the large selection of material for their own use under royalty agreements. For instance, research quantities of elite seed can be ordered, where specific pedigreed hybrid crosses (eucalypt or pine) can be requested. Elite families of a species can be crossed or bulk seedlots ordered. Clients can also send their own pollen for inclusion in the crossing programme.
Companies often expand into 'new' growing environments, which results in their tree breeders having to initiate new, expensive breeding programmes, which will take years to produce the desired results. By cooperating with the CSIR, valuable time and expense can be saved.
There are also a large number of clones from which to select. These clones are the product of years of breeding, and intensive testing. Valuable wood property, rooting percentage, disease resistance and drought tolerance information is available in addition to vigour and form information for select clones. Examples of information available for some of the E. grandis sawtimber clones are available here. In addition the clones are being grown around the globe, providing valuable information for expanding companies. Currently, CSIR genetic material is being grown on several continents and in numerous countries, including in Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, North America, Europe and the Middle East.
Improved F3 Eucalyptus grandis seed for solid wood production is available in commercial quantities from a clonal orchard established by the CSIR and Hans Merensky Timbers. The seed orchard has been specifically designed and highly selected in order to produce low wood end splitting, low brittle heart, high wood density, rapid growth seed for the solid wood industry. The orchard is clonal and the first to include selections against brittle heart, a malfunction which is expressed in trees older than 16 years old. BLUP was used in the selection process.
The CSIR has a eucalypt clone GxC11/25 that it licences
to biotechnology labs across the world. This
clone is easily transformed, reported to root well
in tissue culture and a polyploid has been developed.
This is a first generation commercial clone.
Labs are using it as a 'lab rat' to develop techniques
and technologies.
For order enquiries please contact Vuyisile Hobololo (VHobololo@csir.co.za)
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