The biology, genetics, pathology and control of Alternaria species in Paulownia plantations. The development of Paulownia plantations is a rapidly expanding industry in Australia. Recently, three Alternaria species have been associated with foliar and canker disease leading to tree deaths. Alternaria disease has the potential to cause economic losses to the industry in Western Australia. Therefore, this study will examine the pathology and genetic diversity of Alternaria species, establish path ....The biology, genetics, pathology and control of Alternaria species in Paulownia plantations. The development of Paulownia plantations is a rapidly expanding industry in Australia. Recently, three Alternaria species have been associated with foliar and canker disease leading to tree deaths. Alternaria disease has the potential to cause economic losses to the industry in Western Australia. Therefore, this study will examine the pathology and genetic diversity of Alternaria species, establish pathogenicity screening of different genetic material and look at a range of integrated chemical and silvicultural approaches to reduce disease impact and severity.Read moreRead less
The Biology, Ecology, Pathology and Control of Mycosphaerella Leaf Blights in Australian Eucalypt Plantations. Leaf spot diseases, caused by Mycosphaerella, have become widespread in over 150,000 ha of Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum) plantations in Western Australia, causing severe reduction in canopy area of young trees. This project will research the epidemiology of these diseases by studying the life cycles of the key pathogenic Mycosphaerella species identified in a previous project, modes an ....The Biology, Ecology, Pathology and Control of Mycosphaerella Leaf Blights in Australian Eucalypt Plantations. Leaf spot diseases, caused by Mycosphaerella, have become widespread in over 150,000 ha of Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum) plantations in Western Australia, causing severe reduction in canopy area of young trees. This project will research the epidemiology of these diseases by studying the life cycles of the key pathogenic Mycosphaerella species identified in a previous project, modes and timing of spore dispersal, the infection process, and host specificity. The economic impact of leaf spot diseases will be assessed from large exclusion trials. A predictive integrated management package for Mycosphaerella foliar diseases will be formulated and evaluated to minimising disease impact.Read moreRead less
The cause of basal stem rot in second rotation Eucalyptus globulus plantations. The Eucalyptus globulus plantation industry consists of over 300000 ha in Australia and is worth 1 billion dollars. The industry has expanded rapidly since the mid 1980's and now many crops are in their second rotation. Recently, poor coppice growth in second rotation crops as a result of fungal basal rot or decay, has started to become a significant management problem to the industry. This project will determine th ....The cause of basal stem rot in second rotation Eucalyptus globulus plantations. The Eucalyptus globulus plantation industry consists of over 300000 ha in Australia and is worth 1 billion dollars. The industry has expanded rapidly since the mid 1980's and now many crops are in their second rotation. Recently, poor coppice growth in second rotation crops as a result of fungal basal rot or decay, has started to become a significant management problem to the industry. This project will determine the cause(s) of basal stem rot/decay and develop management strategies to reduce the impact of the problem.Read moreRead less
Pathogenicity of Mycosphaerella on Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Western Australia. Eucalyptus globulus is the main hardwood species grown in plantations in Western Australia. In recent years, the incidence of foliar damage caused by leaf spot fungi in the genus Mycosphaerella has started to become a worrying management problem for the industry. There are approximately 12 Mycosphaerella species associated with Eucalyptus globulus in Western Australia. This project will determine which are t ....Pathogenicity of Mycosphaerella on Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Western Australia. Eucalyptus globulus is the main hardwood species grown in plantations in Western Australia. In recent years, the incidence of foliar damage caused by leaf spot fungi in the genus Mycosphaerella has started to become a worrying management problem for the industry. There are approximately 12 Mycosphaerella species associated with Eucalyptus globulus in Western Australia. This project will determine which are the priority destructive Mycosphaerella species. The information gained will allow researchers to select and breed eucalypts for resistance of target Mycosphaerella species in the future. The project will also develop methods for rapid pathogenicity screening.Read moreRead less
The nature and ecological functions of soil soluble organic nitrogen in contrasting forest ecosystems. This project employs a series of innovative techniques to investigate the dynamic nature and ecological significance of soil soluble organic nitrogen - one of the important nutrient pools, in contrasting tropical, subtropical and temperate forest ecosystems. The successful conduct of this project will lead to: a) better fertilization recommendation schemes, reduced ecosystem N losses, improved ....The nature and ecological functions of soil soluble organic nitrogen in contrasting forest ecosystems. This project employs a series of innovative techniques to investigate the dynamic nature and ecological significance of soil soluble organic nitrogen - one of the important nutrient pools, in contrasting tropical, subtropical and temperate forest ecosystems. The successful conduct of this project will lead to: a) better fertilization recommendation schemes, reduced ecosystem N losses, improved forest productivity and sustainability, minimised environmental pollution and improved water quality in forested watersheds; b) effective conservation of biodiversity in both managed and natural forests; and c) enhanced international cooperation and reputation of the Australian scientists in the relevant research fields.Read moreRead less
Quantitative genetic control of economic traits in Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalyptus globulus is the most important plantation eucalypt in Australia and a model for tree genetic research. The project aims to study the quantitative genetic architecture of this species, focusing on traits of economic significance, and provide new insights into: the relative importance of non-additive genetic effects, including maternal and reciprocal effects; the importance of indirect genetic effects, particularly ....Quantitative genetic control of economic traits in Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalyptus globulus is the most important plantation eucalypt in Australia and a model for tree genetic research. The project aims to study the quantitative genetic architecture of this species, focusing on traits of economic significance, and provide new insights into: the relative importance of non-additive genetic effects, including maternal and reciprocal effects; the importance of indirect genetic effects, particularly on the competitive interactions amongst trees; and the genetics of traits impacting the production of emerging plantation products such as veneer. This information is needed to improve genetic evaluation models and to better target germplasm to environments and products.Read moreRead less
The cellulose synthase complex of the Arabidopsis primary cell wall. The polysaccharide cellulose is the basis for the wood and cotton fibre industries of Australia and much of our research on the mechanism of synthesis has been supported by those industries over the past decade. The present project focuses on the proteins making cellulose and how they organised into functional complexes that are able to make cellulose. The knowledge it provides, together with that from other projects, will move ....The cellulose synthase complex of the Arabidopsis primary cell wall. The polysaccharide cellulose is the basis for the wood and cotton fibre industries of Australia and much of our research on the mechanism of synthesis has been supported by those industries over the past decade. The present project focuses on the proteins making cellulose and how they organised into functional complexes that are able to make cellulose. The knowledge it provides, together with that from other projects, will move us towards the situation where we can manipulate the rate at which cellulose is produced and change its detailed properties. This opens the way to industry producing fibres with more desirable properties and producing novel cellulose-based materials tailored to specific applications.Read moreRead less
Quantitative genetics of Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalypt plantations in Australia have expanded rapidly over the last decade. With increasing market competition from overseas plantations for both pulp and solid wood products, Australia must maintain a competitive edge through efficiencies in production and product quality. Breeding and deployment of genetically superior planting stock is part of the solution. With global climate chance and requirements for re-afforestation in drier zones, there ....Quantitative genetics of Eucalyptus globulus. Eucalypt plantations in Australia have expanded rapidly over the last decade. With increasing market competition from overseas plantations for both pulp and solid wood products, Australia must maintain a competitive edge through efficiencies in production and product quality. Breeding and deployment of genetically superior planting stock is part of the solution. With global climate chance and requirements for re-afforestation in drier zones, there is an increasing requirement to genetically improve drought tolerance. This project will provide genetic information and strategies to back Eucalyptus globulus breeding and deployment programs for traditional as well as drier environments. Read moreRead less
Mixed species plantations: does diversity help tropical eucalypts grow faster, better, longer? To test the assumption that mixtures are better than monocultures, using data from experiments (QFRI) and community plantings. Growth rate, habit (form, branching), timber and soil characteristics in Eucalyptus pellita (Red Mahogany) plantings should elucidate whether mixtures:
1. grow (above-ground woody biomass) faster than pure plantings;
2. have straighter trees with smaller branches;
3. improve ....Mixed species plantations: does diversity help tropical eucalypts grow faster, better, longer? To test the assumption that mixtures are better than monocultures, using data from experiments (QFRI) and community plantings. Growth rate, habit (form, branching), timber and soil characteristics in Eucalyptus pellita (Red Mahogany) plantings should elucidate whether mixtures:
1. grow (above-ground woody biomass) faster than pure plantings;
2. have straighter trees with smaller branches;
3. improve soil fertility; and whether
4. differences are accentuated in subsequent rotations.
E. pellita has valuable dark-red timber, and is widely planted in north Queensland, despite variable performance (3-30 m3/ha/yr, average 10m3/ha/yr). Analyses will reveal opportunities for conservation outcomes and sustainable timber production.Read moreRead less
In vitro propagation (through somatic embryogenesis) of rush and sedge species important for land rehabilitation. This project aims to transform existing propagation methods for rushes and sedges (recalcitrant, but key colonizer species) for restoring critical biodiversity in Australian mine-site restoration. This will be achieved through the process of somatic embryogenesis and will result in cost effective and efficient mass propagation. Significantly, this somatic embryogenesis research will ....In vitro propagation (through somatic embryogenesis) of rush and sedge species important for land rehabilitation. This project aims to transform existing propagation methods for rushes and sedges (recalcitrant, but key colonizer species) for restoring critical biodiversity in Australian mine-site restoration. This will be achieved through the process of somatic embryogenesis and will result in cost effective and efficient mass propagation. Significantly, this somatic embryogenesis research will provide the springboard for development of seed analogues (coated, desiccated somatic embryos) with subsequent economies from bypassing more costly nursery production of whole plants, utilizing existing infrastructure for direct seeding of restoration sites, and reducing dependence on dwindling reserves of wild-harvested seed.Read moreRead less