NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.Proceedings of an international workshop held in Hanoi, Vietnam
27-30 October 1997
Edited by JW Turnbull, HR Crompton and K Pinyopusarerk
Published by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
GPO Box 1571
Canberra ACT 2601
ACIAR Proceedings 82
ISBN 1 86320 217 X
Apart from the 59 papers presented at this conference, this volume also includes a list of recommendations arising from the presentations.
This list of recommendations could be useful in a general sense to anyone reviewing the criteria that need to be considered for a new crop.
The issues of interest were:
1. Genetic resources and tree improvement
Species/provenance testing, the exploration of genetic resources, particularly those from dry and temperate zones, the need for saline, water-logged and acid/alkaline environments for stress screening
A need for an information network comprising email lists of people interested in acacia breeding/silviculture, the development of collaborative research
Seed orchard management studies to investigate gene flows, pollen contamination, isolation distances, the role of vectors, inbreeding, the distribution of genetic material and the location of orchards to maximise seed production
Training in the application of selection methods, since many will need to make forward selections in family within provenance over the next 3-5 years
Breeding strategies and breeding objectives need to be determined.
These include within species, hybridisation, the role of inbreeding, characters to select, real economic weights of different traits and genetic parameters, including non-additive variance
Marker assisted selection, including its economic feasibility, the development of pedigrees for quantitative traits analysis
Hybridisation, including naturally occurring hybrids, the basis of hybrid vigour, the improvement of hybrids, flowering phenology
Technology transfer to aid the rapid development of improved genetic material, improve extension services and integrate with other disciplines to maximise the potential of improved material
Regional collaboration across regions and across countries to analyse the extent of genotype x environment interaction, the potential of international breeding co-operatives, the sharing of improved genetic material, the conservation of genetic resources, seed collections and the usefulness of maintaining slower growing provenances as in-situ collections in breeding populations or commercial plantations
Species identification including the maintenance of an electronic data base permitting easy updating, including taxonomic keys, the identification of species under cultivation and test and the delivery of released taxonomic descriptive information, to ensure the accuracy of names
Wood properties and their relative importance, including the heritability and genetic parameters of traits and their relevance to the development of different products
Weed potential of species and research to reduce the weed potential, such as sterility, the quality of flowering etc.
2. Silviculture and site management
The collation of existing information, in particular:
The need for a thorough characterisation of site variables relevant to plant growth as identified from physiology, growth models and trials (such as the incidence of waterlogging) in addition to taxonomic and other descriptions
Process-based studies dealing with nitrogen cycling in tree/soil/atmosphere and water balance and tree water use
Site-specific research (and demonstration) related to silviculture and site preparation (such as weed control, fertiliser application) for key species and production systems, particularly as they relate to small farmers and also in an agroforestry context to produce a package of practices
Links to tree improvement programs that facilitate information gathering and production, such as the use of clones to detect physiological differences, the use of realistic silvicultural designs in genotype evaluation trials, and better site characterisation in existing and planned species/provenance trials
A better understanding of the social context and reasons for planting, for example environment improvement as opposed to production.
Fostering training (such as the identification of nutritional stress) and education.
3. Pests and diseases
Monitoring of plantations to identify key pathogens and insect pests, requiring the skills of practising pathologists and entomologists, including those countries with an interest in plantation forestry
The quantification of the impacts of pathogens and insect pests on productivity
Research needs prioritised to specific pathogens and insect pests
In the case of Acacia species, the pathogens causing root rots, stem cankers and phyllode rust have been identified as those having a major impact on plantation productivity
The enhancement of skills in forest pathology and entomology through exchange visits, training and collaborative project activities
The risks associated with quarantine issues, particularly the procedures for safe movement of germplasm
Investigation of the potential weediness and any negative environmental impact likely from the species
4. Physiology including soil symbionts
Physiological knowledge to define and identify tree ideotypes for Acacia species, for rapidly growing trees under favourable conditions and trees tolerant of inhospitable sites
At the canopy level, verification of the importance of traits such as canopy area, degree of deciduousness and specific leaf area across a number of Acacias species and their hybrids
Research at the leaf level to determine the physiological mechanisms underpinning these canopy strategies, for example, the ability to retain foliage under seasonal water stress, mechanisms to produce cheaper foliage (such as higher specific leaf areas), photosynthetic efficiency and foliage respiration rates
Research to integrate results from the canopy and leaf levels to assist breeding and selection programs for specific ideotypes to match environments and end uses
Quantification of net gains in soil nitrogen (N) from acacia species in pure stands and in mixed stands
The possible long-term negative effects of N-fixation by soil acidification or nitrous oxide release during second and subsequent rotations of Acacia, particularly in light of the large calcium losses when the trees are harvested Information on the importance of inoculation with mycorrhizas, particularly in low fertility soils
Proper maintenance of collections of over 800 strains of Rhizobium and 2000 strains of mycorrhiza from Australia and south-east Asia
5. Social, economic, and utilisation issues
The social impact of large-scale plantations (on a catchment scale)
Understanding the sociological factors in the small landholder production system which impinge on tree planting, such as land tenure issues, gender equity issues etc, since smaller landholders are likely to play an important role in future plantings of Acacia and other tree species
The set of options available to farmers and the economic factors that determine the ranking of tree planting amongst these options
The constraints facing the small landholders which impinge on the economic feasibility and profitability of tree planting
Assessment of the potential of a tree species, includes consideration of the diversity of end-uses for the tree products
Small-scale alternative technology suitable for community industry to give greater opportunities for value-adding by smallholder tree planters
Mechanisms to identify potential users of forest research results, to educate potential users about available technology and to assist with the transfer of the technology to the potential users
6. Mechanisms to foster future collaboration
Collaboration at both national and international levels since knowledge is being generated by many organisations
A proper mechanism where funding and support could be drawn from as many sources as possible
Researchers should be aware of the many and varied opportunities for research collaboration
To foster collaboration, regular meetings should be held and communication improved
Continue with publications with contributions from scientists in the region via proceedings and monographs
Short and long term training is an important element in future collaboration and activities.
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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