This report provides an overview of the group’s achievements since its formation in 1999. A range of trials have been established, including provenance, progeny, genetic gain trials and seed orchards. Early results from field trials, as well as a description of extension, commercial opportunities and linkages to industry and other projects are provided. As a result of this project improved seed is available, with more seed orchards due to begin producing in 2007- 08.

Who is the report targeted at?
The report is for use by farm forestry extension and cooperatives, landholders, the plantation industry and policy interested in the availability of improved planting stock, and the status of tree breeding work for improving low to medium rainfall plantation productivity.

Background
Research need
While tree genetic improvement research on species suited to Australia’s low rainfall sheepwheat belt had been ongoing for years in a number of State and Commonwealth organisations, the relative intensity had been low up until the late ‘90s, compared with high rainfall forestry research and development (R&D) where industry was already wellestablished.

However, there was a growing awareness of wide-scale environmental problems such as dryland salinity, and the need to ameliorate this by planting of deep-rooted perennial vegetation. A workshop was organised by the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP) and the South Australian State forestry research organisations in 1998 which involved low rainfall tree improvement stakeholders from relevant organisations. A cooperative model of research was proposed to achieve a ‘critical mass’ and thereby accelerate R&D in this important area. In 1999 following discussions with stakeholders, JVAP and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, a cooperative low rainfall tree improvement program was established. The mission of the newly formed Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group (ALRTIG) was defined as: to produce genetically improved planting material for farm forestry in the low rainfall areas of southern Australia, and inform tree growers of its availability.

Partnership ALRTIG is based on partnerships at a number of levels. Its ‘core’ partners are represented on the project steering Committee along with a JVAP representative. Other partners are representatives from collaborating scientific organisations, industry and the farming community. The high degree of cooperation between the various partners has been critical to ALRTIG’s success.

Organisation ALRTIG’s scientific research is focused on three areas: Hardwoods, Softwoods and Short- Rotation Woody Crops. Each of the three areas is serviced by individual Technical Committees, with representation from experts from the partner organisations. The main task of the Technical Committees was initially to select a small number of ‘key species’ on which to concentrate, and then to devise strategic research plans, implement works and review and ensure that the plans were being executed.

The Technical and Steering Committees have been served by a full-time National Coordinator. The role of the Coordinator has been to carry out secretariat functions, plan and oversee aspects of trial establishment, edit scientific publications, represent ALRTIG in public and oversee extension activities, create and maintain the website and manage intellectual property and commercial aspects. The Coordinator has also been a central point of contact for the Partners, and responsible for budgets and delivery of milestone reporting to JVAP.

Aims/Objectives
This project built on work done by the Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group (ALRTIG) between 1999 and 2001 on breeding tree species for commercial forestry in low rainfall areas of southern Australia. The aims were to:

1. update the breeding strategy for low rainfall hardwood species and establish new progeny trials, seed orchards and genetic gain trials for key species,
2. develop and begin to implement a breeding strategy for low rainfall radiata pine (Pinus radiata), and measure trials of P. pinaster established in phase 1 in southeastern Australia
3. maintain short rotation species site x genotype trials established in phase 1 of ALRTIG
4. disseminate results from ALRTIG research, including to make recommendations on best-bet provenances and seed sources
5. provide improved seed sources to assist with profitability, investment in and uptake of dryland agroforestry.

• Analysis of Partner’s existing pooled data to make recommendations on best-bet seed sources
• Conversion of existing planted stands and trials for seed production purposes to meet short-term demand for improved seed
• Establishment of a series of progeny trials, some of which will be managed for production of high quality seed while others will be retained for data collection and selection of genetic material for future generations
• Research into vegetative propagation
• Establishment of clonal seed orchards for production of substantially improved seed
• Establishment of genetic gain trials to test and demonstrate the superiority of genetically improved material Genetic improvement strategies were published for each species, and a review was undertaken in 2002. E. sideroxylon and C. citriodora subsp. variegata, which are closely related to E. tricarpa and C. maculata respectively, were added to the list of key species. A review of the breeding strategies was published in 2004.

It has broadly similar wood properties to P. radiata, and may therefore find ready industry acceptance. A series of ten yield trials were set up on sites representative of the target planting environment. The trials compare various genetically improved materials with unimproved P. pinaster. A comprehensive survey of soil physical properties was undertaken at each site.

A genetic improvement strategy similar to that of the hardwoods was prepared for P. brutia.

This species, which has been introduced to Australia from the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, was identified as having potential for very dry sites, including those with alkaline and/or shallow soils. It is amongst the most drought resistant Pinus species. ALRTIG has created a series of seed stands, by thinning existing stands, for short term seed production.

A comprehensive survey of all known Australian stands was undertaken, and a list of candidate plus trees compiled. The top 39 of these trees have been grafted into a clonal seed orchard. Efforts were made to make new collections of seed from the species’ natural range in 2000. An excellent collection was made, and it is hoped that this will be released from quarantine in the near future.

In 2002, it was decided by the Softwoods Technical Committee that the potential for creating a new, low rainfall breed of P. radiata would be examined. A strategy for creating a new breed, possibly based on the previously untapped Mexican island and Cambria provenances was devised. Preliminary work was undertaken to implement the strategy, including establishment of trials and controlled crossing.

Short rotation woody crops The Short Rotation Woody Crop Technical Committee chose two eucalypt mallee species E. polybractea (blue mallee) and E. horistes (oil mallee) for a series of genetic-byenvironment trials to be established in each of the southern mainland States. Both of these species yield high volumes of cineole-rich leaf oils, and are grown on three-to-four-year coppice rotations. While in Western Australia it was already known that E. horistes was suited to relatively drier sites, and E. polybractea relatively wetter ones, the environmental niches on eastern site types were unknown. The study will provide information on the environmental plasticity of the two species, and will help to inform breeding programs.

Initially, a clonal trial series was planned, and vegetative propagation studies were undertaken. However both species proved to be difficult to propagate, and so seedling-based trials were established in 2001.

Extension ALRTIG’s mission is ‘to produce genetically improved planting material for farm forestry in the low rainfall areas of southern Australia, and inform tree growers of its availability’: communication has therefore been an important focus of the project. ALRTIG has communicated information and promoted the use of genetically improved germplasm through a variety of media including:

• Written publications for scientific and general audiences
• Representation at conferences and workshops
• Articles and interviews in rural press and radio
• Contribution to development of professionals in forestry and agroforestry practitioners
• Creation of a website containing information on the key species and best-bet seed sources

ALRTIG is addressing one of the technical impediments by breeding low rainfall tree species that will generate profits, and providing capacity to respond to demand for genetically improved germplasm when the need arises.

ALRTIG has created a resource that will have significant commercial value. The seed from the orchards may be sufficient in quantity to supply a sizeable plantation estate. It is envisaged that the Partners will market this to nurseries and growers. The sale of ‘interim’ improved seed (i.e. seed from pre-existing stands that have been treated to produce seed until the ALRTIG orchards start producing) has already commenced from some Partners’ stands.

An important part of the commercial strategy has been to involve industry stakeholders directly in the genetic improvement programs. In 2003 a series of genetic gain trials were established on industrial partners’ estates. The benefit of this approach is that industry stakeholders can assess the performance of genetically improved germplasm as compared with non-improved benchmarks on their own sites using their preferred silviculture regime.

Genetic improvement ALRTIG has created a valuable base of genetic improvement for a number of low rainfall key species. Early indications are that there will be significant improvement in the traits of interest. It is likely that through genetic improvement, commercially viable products can be obtained from low rainfall plantations. This will afford direct benefits to the grower, through the commercial revenue obtained, and indirect benefits to the grower and others, through positive environmental impacts.

Recommendations
It is our assessment that overall, the program has achieved its objectives. Specific areas recommended for extra work include:

• continued measurement of ALRTIG trials to assist yield predictions and population genetic studies
• continued seed collections from trials and orchards using agreed promotion and sale procedure between by ALRTIG partners
• creation of extra short-term seed capacity in certain species
• maintenance of extension activities.