Clonal Technologies

This project has developed highly successful protocols for clonal propagation, short-term preservation and distribution of the Corymbia hybrid and the African mahogany using alginate-encapsulated shoot tips and nodes as synthetic seeds. We have found that synthetic seeds can be preserved successfully in the laboratory for at least 12 months. Previously the establishment of Corymbia and Khaya plantations had been hampered by inadequate seed supply and low amenability to propagation as rooted cuttings. These in vitro propagation techniques, and the accompanying macropropagation techniques from the project, are highly suited for plant breeding programs. This is a major breakthrough in the field of clonal technology, as it means that large numbers of hardwood varieties can be stored and propagated using less-expensive and technically-simpler methods than previously possible. Many articles from the Clonal Technologies component of the project have been published in peer reviewed journals