PULP AND BIOMASS PRODUCING SPECIES

Eucalyptus globulus has been used for plantation establishment in South-West Western Australia since the 1980's. The Forest Products Commission breeding program commenced with the planting of family trials in 1985. Since then a base population of over 1000 families and over 100 000 trees has been established. Using various selection intensities, a number of different types of seed orchard have been developed with the major emphasis on grafted clonal seed orchards (CSO). "Western Blue Gum" is a registered name for any material that has been developed from the Forest Products Commission breeding program.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red River Gum)

This species is regarded as highly tolerant to arid and semi arid conditions. Additionally it has been particularly useful in the rehabilitation of saline contaminated lands. Provenance trials were established in Western Australia in 1985 and after nine years of growth, Lake Albacutya provenance was identified for best wood volume and Laura, South Australia provenance for growth and form. A clonal orchard has been established using the best selections from each provenance as well as including the best selections from a salt-screening trial. Seed harvested from this orchard is collected in two groups, the growth and form selections and the salt-tolerant selections.