MILLIONS of specially-bred pine seedlings have been planted across the Green Triangle region in the search for the global forestry industry’s ideal tree of the future.
More than 150 tree planters have planted an estimated 23 million seedlings across the Limestone Coast in recent weeks, with timely winter rainfall aiding their work to make it one of the best seasons in recent years.
Southern Tree Breeding Australia trial sites involving specially bred seedlings will be studied over the coming years to identify improved genetics for the nation’s forest growers.
Each tree planted is genetically unique and its performance will be measured for various growth form, such as branching and stem straightness and wood property traits at various ages over the next five to 30 years.
STBA general manager Dr Tony McRae leads the national tree improvement cooperative, which aims to improve the quality and value of the plantation resource.
Dr McRae was on the ground at Rennick and Mount Burr last week helping to plant trial plots each containing 9500 trees from about 300 different families.
“The objective is to find the next generation of trees that will grow faster, be straighter with smaller branches and have improved timber stiffness for milling structural grade timber,” he said.
“Ultimately our role is to ensure the forest owners grow a healthy tree, generating structurally superior timber for processing in our local mills.”
Dr McRae said it was anticipated just five to 10 of the best trees in each trial would be selected for grafting into future seed orchards, aiming to produce genetically improved seed for the next generation of plantations.
Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub executive general manager Liz McKinnon said STBA’s work was helping to further position the region as a global leader in forestry and growing the domestic manufacturing base.
“This cutting-edge research has the world watching,” she said.
“Collaborating scientists from countries such as Sweden and France are eager to learn from this research which is assisting to get more value from each tree grown.
“Our hub has set a strategy to grow more trees, in the right place at the right scale to achieve zero waste.”
