Achievements in forest tree improvement in Australia and New Zealand 9. Genetic improvement ofEucalyptus nitensin Australia

Summary Eucalyptus nitens is the second most widely planted eucalypt species in Australia. The species is principally grown for the production of pulpwood but substantial areas are also managed for solid-wood production. The first large-scale E. nitens progeny trials were established in the 1970s and up to two cycles of breeding have since been completed. Estimates of genetic gains achieved through breeding are not routinely published, but numerous genetic gain trials have been established. Advances in the understanding of E. nitens genetic architecture and reproductive biology have been integrated into operational breeding and deployment programs. Despite extensive research into alternative deployment strategies, improved E. nitens genotypes are almost universally deployed as seedlings derived from open-pollinated seed-orchards.