The seedling seed orchards of Eucalyptus cladocalyx (Sugar Gum) are located at Corowa, New South Wales, and Benalla, Victoria. Their common objective is to produce improved seeds and to serve as part of a base population for breeding.
Establishment of the E. cladocalyx seedling seed orchards
In 1998 a E cladocalyx provenance-family trial was established with a local land owner near Benalla, Victoria. Three years late in 2001, with funding from the ALRTIG, CSIRO and V.L. Carroll Pty Ltd jointly established and now manage, a trial near Corowa, New South Wales.
Both trials were established to test for superior provenances, families and individuals, with the intention of converting the trials into seedling seed orchards based on assessment results. The Corowa site underwent its first thinning 2006.
Original selections were made from natural provenances, semi-improved planted stands in Victoria and the PIRSA (Department of primary industries of south Australia) established Kersbrook seed production area.
Until recently seed from the Kersbrook seed production area was considered the best performing E cladocalyx seed available.
Benalla orchard site details
The E cladocalyx seedling seed orchard situated near Benalla, Victoria is less than 200m above sea level with an annual precipitation of approximately 800 mm. The Benalla trial was established as a row-column design with eight replicates and five tree row plots.
Corowa orchard site details
The seedling seed orchard situated near Corowa, NSW is also less than 200m above sea level with an annual precipitation of approximately 539 mm.
The Corowa trial was established as a row-column design with five replicates and family plot size originally four trees then thinned to two trees in 2006.
Seed availability
Seed from the Eucalyptus cladocalyx seedling seed orchards became available in 2008 and can be purchased by customers in Australia and overseas.