Genome project for Eucalypts?

With the human genome project well under way, researchers are keen to map the genetic information of Australia's gum tree.

"The Eucalypt Genome Initiative (EGI) is a unique proposal with international significance," says Dr Glen Kile, Chief, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products. Dr Kile says that knowledge of the complete eucalypt genetic blueprint, about one sixth the size of the human genome, would revolutionise conservation biology and tree improvement research, and will be a resource for research and breeding of better trees for the next 100 years.

"Eucalypts are now the most widely planted hardwood in the world." Dr Kile says the genome project would establish Australia as a leading force in international genomics research and secure valuable intellectual property on behalf of the Australian public. Eucalypts are the most important genus occurring naturally in Australia and one of the nation's most identifiable symbols, he says.

"Eucalypts are vital to the nation's well being," says Dr Kile. "They are critically important in our landscape for conservation, aesthetics, land protection and land remediation, biodiversity habitat and commercial forestry." A consortium has been formed including the Australian Genome Research Facility, CSIRO, Universities of Queensland, Melbourne, Monash, Tasmania and Southern Cross, Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry, state forest agencies, and private forest genetics companies, to advance the project.

The national Eucalypt Genome Initiative would cost approximately $60 million and take three to four years to complete.