Eucalypt Domestication and Breeding - Hardcover

Eldridge, Ken G.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019854149X ISBN 13: 9780198541493

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1994

Synopsis

Eucalypts are being brought into cultivation as wood-producing crops throughout the warmer parts of the world. This book explains how to get better seed from these expanding plantations. This can be achieved by making well-planned seed collections from natural forests, followed by field trials with repeated selection and cross-pollination. This can soon produce faster-growing, straighter trees. 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. K.G. Eldridge is the author of "An Annotated Bibliography of Genetic Variation in Eucalyptus Camaldulensis".

About this title

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)

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019854149X
• ISBN 13: 9780198541493
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 307