Development of an economic selection index for Australian tea tree

This study has developed the first formal breeding objective for the Australian tea tree plantation industry. Significant gains in profitability of Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) could be made through selection for biomass and oil yield, while maintaining oil quality at acceptable levels. Economic values or weights (EWs), for breeding-objective traits were estimated based on a bio-economic model of a typical production system in Australia. Sensitivity of EWs to the production-system parameters was analysed by what-if scenarios. Selection indices and genetic responses were derived and sensitivity of selection index coefficients to variation in EWs and genetic parameters were analysed by Monte Carlo simulation. The EW for average leaf biomass (LB) and oil content (OC) had the net present value of AU29.53/kg and AU29.53/kg and AU2059 per mg/g, respectively. Among the production system parameters studied, discount rate and oil price had large impact on the two EWs, while operating costs changed the EW of LB but did not affect the that of OC. Using optimal selection index, positive expected responses in objective traits LB (36.2 kg/ha/year), OC (4.64 mg/g), and in all selection traits (i.e. juvenile OC, height, leafiness, and 1,8-cineole) were obtained except for terpinen-4-ol, at a 10% selection intensity (i = 1.76). Use of restricted selection index resulted in zero change in either 1,8-cineole or terpinen-4-ol content, but also in an opportunity cost especially in OC. The most important factor affecting the sensitivity of the selection index was the EW for OC.     

不同月份对互叶白千层精油得油率及主要化学成分含量的影响

为探究互叶白千层(Melaleuca alternifolia)无性系植株精油的品质,选择合适的收获时间,连续15个月取2年生互叶白千层无性系植株带叶枝条,采用水蒸气蒸馏法提取精油,采用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析不同月份精油得油率及主要化学成分含量的变化。结果表明,该无性系植株为4-松油醇型优良品系,4-松油醇平均含量高达38.39%,1,8-桉叶素含量仅为1.05%。随砍伐时间间隔的延长,得油率、4-松油醇、γ-松油烯和α-松油烯含量呈上升趋势,1,8-桉叶素含量则呈下降趋势,间隔5个月后各成分指标均符合ISO 4730:2017标准,因此建议砍伐间隔至少保持5个月以上。得油率和主要化学成分含量受收获时间影响,9月至次年2月得油率较高,尤其是次年1-2月,此时4-松油醇含量高,1,8-桉叶素含量低,所得油的品质最佳。     

不同工艺生产茶树油产品质量的研究

以ISO 4730-1996为标准对工业化生产和小型芳香油生产装置(乡村适用的)两种工艺制得的茶树油的理化指标和主要成分含量进行对比分析,发现利用小型芳香油装置生产的茶树油重组分小于 5 %.初步探讨认为重组分沸点高,常压难蒸出.     

Potential of clones in improving the financial benefits of essential oil production from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melaleuca alternifolia</Emphasis> plantations

Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a woody plant that produces an essential oil with antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties and is widely formulated into many products. Yield and financial analyses were done to compare the viability of replanting 20 ha tea tree plantations using elite clones and improved seedlings over a 15 year time frame were carried out. Four plantation options were modelled: (1) plantations established using genetically improved seedlings (ATTIA 2B) planted at a stocking of 33,333 plants/ha and (2) 16,667 plants/ha, (3) plantations established using the best three selected clones planted at a stocking of 33,333 plants/ha and (4) 16,667 plants/ha. Financial analysis showed that, at an oil price of $45/kg (as at Sep 2008), replacement plantations of either elite clones or improved seedlings are both highly profitable irrespective of the stocking employed. The Net Present Values per hectare at 7% discount rate was $45/kg (as at Sep 2008), replacement plantations of either elite clones or improved seedlings are both highly profitable irrespective of the stocking employed. The Net Present Values per hectare at 7% discount rate was 107,824, 63,640,63,640, 163,162 and 104,055 for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Plantation option 3 was predicted to give the greatest profit at any of the oil prices tested, followed by plantation option 1, 4 and 2. The break-even prices for tea tree oil production, using the production parameters in this model were104,055 for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Plantation option 3 was predicted to give the greatest profit at any of the oil prices tested, followed by plantation option 1, 4 and 2. The break-even prices for tea tree oil production, using the production parameters in this model were 11.81/kg, 15.19/kg,15.19/kg, 10.72/kg and $12.96/kg for plantation options 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.     

The influence of ontogeny on essential oil traits when micropropagating Eucalyptus polybractea

Eucalyptus polybractea (blue mallee) is the key species used in the commercial production of pharmaceutical-grade (>70% 1,8-cineole) eucalyptus oil in Australia. The establishment of plantations based on clones of selected, elite oil-producing plants has been recognized as the best means by which to increase oil and cineole yields. Blue mallee can be micropropagated using axillary bud proliferation of explants collected from the coppicing lignotubers of decapitated plants. To date, this has been successful for ortets from three different ontogenetic stages: 8-month-old ‘seedlings’, 4-year-old ‘saplings’ and ‘mature’, biannually harvested plants of indeterminate age. The issue of ontogenetic control of oil quality and quantity is an important consideration when selecting ortets for cloning and also when examining the success of a cloning programme. Our aim is to examine if clones derived from ortets of the three different ages reflect their respective ortets, in terms of oil quantity and quality (cineole proportion), and to appraise at what age the clones best reflect the ortets for these traits. Our results suggest that the age of ortets prior to explant collection does not influence micropropagation success or clonal consistency, and that clones generally exhibit the leaf oil traits of their respective ortets. Leaf oil quantity accumulation in ramets followed the ontogenetic trajectory of a relatively rapid increase to a maximum between 3 and 9 months, followed by a period of relative constancy for at least 12 months before beginning to gradually decrease after 21 months. Although oil quality of ramets reflected their corresponding ortets relatively well after 9 months, apparent ontogenetic constraints to cineole accumulation suggest that harvesting at a time between 9 and 21 months may better reflect the ortets for both traits. It appears likely that the proliferation of selected blue mallee genotypes using micropropagation will result in selection gains for key oil traits, thus potentially increasing cineole yields in future plantations.     

Improvement of the tissue culture technique for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melaleuca alternifolia</Emphasis>

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves and twigs of Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel, and it is widely used in medicines, food preservatives, cosmetics and health care products. Traditional propagation of M. alternifolia from seeds does not necessarily transfer the desired characteristics from their mother trees, the seedlings are not uniform, and the multiplication rate from cuttings is relatively low. For these reasons, it is necessary to develop tissue culture techniques for this species. This study showed that an efficient explant initiation medium for M. alternifolia was MS 1/2 + BA 0.6 mg L^?1 + NAA 0.1 mg L^?1 + sucrose 30 g L^?1, which yielded a 75.9 % initiation rate. An efficient multiplication medium was MS + BA 0.3 mg L^?1 + NAA 0.15 mg L^?1 + sucrose 30 g L^?1, which yielded a 4.3 multiplication rate and 3.2 cm shoot length. The rooting medium was MS 1/2 + IBA 0.1–0.25 mg L^?1 + sucrose 15 g L^?1, which yielded a 100 % rooting rate, 2.94–3.32 roots per individual and 1.36–1.44 cm root length. Local red-core soil was suitable as a transplant medium, and yielded 98 % survival. This study improved the tissue culture technique for mass-propagation of M. alternifolia, enabling the production of high quality plants for market.     

Genotypic variation in response to low boron in eucalypt clones

Eucalypts are increasingly important in the tropics for meeting growing demand for timber, wood chips, paper pulp and biofuel. Many new plantations are planted on low boron (B) soils, with adverse effects on plant growth and productivity. Two experiments in sand culture with different levels of added B, from 0 to 10 μM B, examined the effect of B deficiency on growth, wood yield and morphology of fibres of three commercially available eucalypt clones: K7 (Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. deglupta), K51 (E. brassiana × E. grandis) and K57 (E. camaldulensis). In plant height, dry weight and wood production, K7 was more tolerant of B deficiency, but K57 and K51 were more responsive to increasing B. At the level of B that depressed growth by up to 54% and wood yield by up to 65%, no significant effect of B deficiency was observed on fibre morphology. However, as the wood:shoot ratio in K51 and K57 increased with increasing B, there is a possibility that B has a direct effect on wood production in some genotypes, in addition to an indirect effect via better growth. These results indicate that attention to B nutrition in eucalypt plantations would be beneficial to plant growth and productivity before effects of B on individual wood fibres becomes detectable. Selection for B-efficient genotypes could be useful for plantations on low B soils, and the full potential of sites where B is not limiting could be better realised with B-responsive genotypes.     

互叶白千层无性系区域试验研究

以前期选育的互叶白千层Melaleuca alternifolia 6个优树无性系为材料，在福建寿宁、广东东源、广西钟山开展区域性试验，通过测量生长与精油性状发现，生长性状（树高、地径、胸径和树冠截面积）、鲜叶含油量和精油中4-松油醇占比在无性系水平上以及地点间均存在极显著差异，表明精油资源林培育中无性系遗传特性与生境适应性均很重要。6个无性系精油中的4-松油醇占比均超过30%，即达到国家标准GB/T 26514-2011要求。综合选择指数分析结果显示，广西钟山适宜推广无性系YHB1、YHB2、 YHB3，福建寿宁适宜种植无性系YHB1和YHB2，广东东源适宜发展无性系YHB1、YHB2、YHB3和YHB4。     

Composition and biological activity of essential oil of Achillea ligustica All. (Asteraceae) naturalized in central Italy: Ideal candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations

Essential oil from flowers (FL) and vegetative parts (VP) of Achillea ligustica (Asteraceae), naturalized after cultivation in central Italy, was investigated by GC–FID and GC–MS. The most abundant components were linalool, viridiflorol, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol. The antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and β-carotene bleaching test) demonstrated a moderate activity of essential oils. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth micro-dilution method on 6 microbial strains and showed to be quite strong against the cariogenic Gram-positive Streptococcus mutans, suggesting that this essential oil could be a valid candidate for anti-cariogenic formulations. Moderate cytotoxic activity was observed in assays on four tumour cell lines by MTT assay.     

林龄、采伐方式对大叶相思萌芽更新的影响*

在海南省琼海县进行了不同林龄、不同采伐方式对大叶相思萌芽更新影响的研究，同时比较了保留不同萌条数量的萌芽林生长表现。结果表明：（１）林龄对伐桩萌芽率没有显著影响，但对伐桩存活率及萌条的径、高生长影响显著或极显著。林龄越大，萌芽更新效果越差；（２）皆伐和隔行采伐对大叶相思伐桩的萌芽率、萌条数量和存活率均无显著影响，但对萌条的径、高生长影响极显著。试验证明对大叶相思林分施以隔行采伐通过萌芽更新建立复层     

Aluminum tolerance and aluminum-induced deposition of callose and lignin in the root tips of Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species

We exposed the roots of nine Myrtaceae species (Melaleuca bracteata F. Muell., Melaleuca cajuputi Powell, Melaleuca glomerata F. Muell., Melaleuca leucadendra [L.] L., Melaleuca quinquenervia [Cav.] S.T. Blake, Melaleuca viridiflora Sol. ex Gaertner, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus deglupta Bl., and Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden) to 1 mM Al in a nutrient solution for either 24 h or 20 days to evaluate their sensitivity to excess Al and to determine whether callose and lignin formation can be used as interspecific indicators of Al sensitivity. Inhibition of root elongation by Al varied among the species. Melaleuca leucadendra, M. cajuputi, E. grandis, M. quinquenervia, and E. deglupta were tolerant to 1 mM Al, whereas M. viridiflora, E. camaldulensis, M. glomerata, and M. bracteata were sensitive to 1 mM Al. We found that Al induced callose formation in the root tips of each species, but lignin was formed only in the root tips of the most sensitive species, M. bracteata. Root elongation at 1 mM Al was negatively correlated with Al-induced callose formation but not with the Al-induced lignin formation in the root tips. These results suggest that Al-induced callose formation, rather than lignin formation, can be used as an interspecific indicator of Al sensitivity.     

Responses of coppiced Eucalyptus to macro- and micronutrient application

Coppicing is a widely adopted management system for forest plantations; however, little information is available pertaining to responses to fertilizer application. Our objective was therefore to assess the effect of individual and conjunct omissions of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, and Cu on the growth of a highly productive Eucalyptus urophylla?×?E. grandis hybrid clone, managed for coppicing at the second rotation, in two soils of contrasting fertility in southeastern Brazil. Two commercial sites of approximately 7 years of age, one in an Arenosol and the other in a Ferralsol, were harvested and the experiments installed. At the Arenosol site, the yield from the fertilizer treatment in the coppice system (R2) was the same as determined for the first rotation (high forest; R1), at approximately 40 m³ ha^?1 year^?1 at 6 years old. In contrast, the yield from the fertilizer treatment in R2 at the Ferralsol site was 11% lower compared with R1. Despite some alterations in leaf nutrient concentrations, other than for K at the Arenosol site (where the K omission treatment reduced wood volume at 6 years by 21%), no yield reduction was found for any no-fertilizer treatments. Due to the widely distributed root system already established in coppiced plantations, ensuring a large volume of soil exploration, coppiced eucalypts only responded to K application. This is due to low soil K availability and the high K demand in eucalypt plantations.

     

Examination of the consistency of plant traits driving oil yield and quality in short-rotation coppice cultivation of Eucalyptus polybractea

The value of eucalyptus oil for medicinal purposes is based largely on its cineole content. The prime commercial species for cineole production in Australia is Eucalyptus polybractea (blue mallee). Despite the long history of blue mallee harvesting in Australia, there has been little research on the establishment of plantations of the species or on the efficacy of short-rotation coppice cultivation with respect to the consistency of oil yield and quality from rotation to rotation. This study aims to assess if subsequent coppice oil traits reflect sapling traits and if the coppice oil traits under short-rotation cultivation are consistent from one rotation to the next. A trial plantation was established in a key eucalyptus oil harvesting district in Victoria. Firstly, the oil-related traits of 20 saplings harvested 3.5 years after planting were compared with those of their subsequent coppice harvested after 12 months regrowth. Despite the expected differences in total biomass, the oil-related traits of blue mallee saplings were mostly well reflected in their subsequent coppice. Total above ground biomass and foliar oil concentration were significantly related between saplings and coppice, and cineole proportion showed a Pearson's correlation of 0.93 between harvests. Nevertheless, the mean foliar oil concentration in the coppice was 148 mg g⁻¹ dw compared with 107 in the saplings, and the coppice foliage, on average, showed significantly reduced cineole with a mean of 87% in the saplings (maximum of 95.6%) compared to a mean of only 80% in the coppice (maximum of 87.0%). Secondly, the oil traits of 20 coppice plants from one 12-month harvest rotation to the next were compared. Again, total above ground biomass, foliar oil concentration and cineole proportion were significantly related between the harvests, with cineole proportion having a Pearson's correlation of 0.90 between rotations. The coppice between rotations were remarkably consistent in terms of biomass and oil traits and indeed mean coppice cineole yields were 28.6 and 29.7 g in rotations 1 and 2, respectively. The results support the screening of key oil-related traits in saplings for the selection of elite genotypes for plantations, and the use of short-rotation cultivation of the plantations for continued oil harvesting. Furthermore, no relationship was observed between biomass and oil concentration in the blue mallee saplings or coppice, suggesting selection gains in a given key oil trait will not result in losses in another.     

Oil yield and quality variation between sexes in Osyris lanceolata (African sandalwood) and its value as a fodder plant in Tanzania

African sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) is widely harvested in East Africa for extraction of oil, which is used in the fragrance and perfumery industry. Over the years, harvesting of the species has been concentrated to female plants because it is claimed that they yield more and better quality oil compared to males. However, data to support these claims is lacking. Osyris lanceolata is also used extensively by pastoralists as feed supplement during the dry season, yet little information on the species’ nutritive value exists. Oil yield and quality variations between male and female O. lanceolata and its nutritive values were evaluated to ascertain the purported reasons for sex selectivity in harvesting, and to determine the potential value of the species as a fodder plant. Oil yield was determined by extracting oil from a known amount of wood, while quality assessment was done by determining the amount of santalol, a prime determinant of sandalwood oil quality. The species’ potential as a fodder plant was determined by analyzing the nutritive value and digestibility of leaves and fruits. There was no significant variation (p = 0.856) in oil yield between sexes, though populations differed significantly (P < 0.001). The highest oil yield was 9.32 ± 0.611%. Likewise, sexes did not differ significantly (P = 0.655) in oil quality, though populations differed significantly (P < 0.001). The highest santalol content was 11.1%. It is concluded that sex selectivity during harvesting has no relation to oil yield and quality. However, population selectivity is strongly justified due to the huge variation in oil yield and quality, and is likely to be the major reason for over-exploiting some populations. It is recommended that there is a need to refrain from overharvesting of females within populations, since the practice is likely to erode the genetic vigour of the species and affect its sustainability. Nutritive studies revealed the species to have 15.9–19.7% crude protein, 15.9–24.0% crude fibre, 0.77–0.81% fat/oil, 97.5–97.8% dry matter, 8.5–10.3% ash content, 72.2–72.4% digestibility. These figures are within the acceptable range, suggesting that both leaves and fruits of the species are a potential alternative source of animal protein where protein supplements are not available or expensive.     

Genetic parameters and expected gains from selection for monoterpene yields in Petford Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Genetic parameters were estimated for yield of 1,8-cineole and total monoterpenes as a fraction of leaf weight in nineteen open-pollinated families of Petford origin at 3.75 years in two progeny/provenance trials of E. camaldulensis in Zimbabwe. Both traits appear to be highly heritable and, as expected, were strongly genetically correlated, with narrow-sense individual heritabilities near 0.50. Expected gain in the first generation following individual selection in the trials of one tree in 10 for either trait is about 25–32%.Genetic correlations between growth traits and 1,8-cineole yield were small. This indicates that both traits might be improved concurrently thus enhancing the economics of growing Petford E. camaldulensis for wood and medicinal oil. However, the presence of moderate and unfavourable genetic correlations between growth traits and total yield of monoterpenes warrants further study. It was not possible to gauge the significance of apparent family × site interaction for 1,8-cineole yield in this study. However, a test of rank correlation showed an association (Ip<0.01) between family rankings on each site and the highest-yielding trees on both sites came from the same families. This raises the possibility of being able to select individuals for cloning that yield well over a range of site conditions.     

Effect of essential oils of some medicinal plants on phytonematodes

The essential oils of four medicinal plants belonging to Lamiaceae were explored for phytonematode control. The four oils inhibited (P<0.05) nematode motility butMentba spicata was generally more effective in reducing the numbers of active nematodes followed byThymus vulgaris, Majorana bortensis andMentba longifolia. The main corresponding compound of each oil, determined by GLC analysis, was carvone (58.14%), P-cymene (40.5%), terpinen-4-ol (41.6%) and carvone (70.36%). Soil stages of the reniform nematode were more affected by the oil than those of the ring and lance nematodes. When transferred to water, the total nematodes that regained their activeness ranged from 12% forT. vulgaris to 60% forM. longifolia. The four 0.1 oil solutions inhibited more than to about 3.5% at the control. The content of oxygenated compounds in these oils ranged from 45.79% to 96.5% and may be partially responsible for the nematicidal effects.     

Biomass Cycling and Soil Properties in an Agroforestry-based Plantation System of kayu putih (Melaleuca leucadendron LINN) in East Java, Indonesia

We investigated age-related changes in biomass cycling and soil properties in a kayu putih (Melaleuca leucadendron LINN, Myrtaceae) with improved shifting cultivation system in East Java, Indonesia, to design better management plans for sustainable kayu putih oil production and crop yield. Harvested biomass of kayu putih increased markedly from 7- to 15-year-old stands, but did not increase further in older stands averaging 2.41 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Kayu putih contributed 1.9–31.0% of total biomass production. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) tuber was the largest component of biomass cycling. Harvested biomass of cassava decreased with increasing stand age and there was a trade-off between above- and below-ground biomass productions. Harvested biomass of maize (Zea mays L.) grain was constant throughout stand growth, whereas returned biomass fluctuated. With increasing stand age, soil organic matter (SOM) accumulated in soil indicating that returned biomass was decomposing slowly. Content of primary nutrients did not change with stand age. The contribution of cassava to harvested biomass was considerably larger than that of kayu putih. For this reason, selection of cassava as a single companion crop may not be suitable for sustaining kayu putih oil production. Maize may be a good companion crop for kayu putih because it produces a constant grain yield throughout stand growth and its contribution to harvested biomass is comparable to that of kayu putih. In addition, maize is shallow-rooted and causes less below-ground competition with deep-rooted kayu putih trees.     

Establishment and early growth of introduced indigenous tree species in typical plantations and shrubland in South China

Unsuccessful colonization by indigenous tree species into established plantations has retarded the succession of artificial plantations to more natural, secondary forests in South China. To understand how to improve colonization by seedlings of indigenous species, we determined how performance of indigenous seedlings is affected by seedling species (the shade-intolerant Castanopsis chinensis, the moderately shade-intolerant Michelia chapensis, and the shade-tolerant Psychotria rubra), the site into which the seedlings were transplanted (a mixed-legume plantation, a eucalyptus plantation, a mixed-native plantation, a mixed-conifer plantation, and a shrubland), and site preparation (removal or retention of understory vegetation and litter). Seedling survival and growth were generally increased by removal of understory vegetation and litter. C. chinensis and M. chapensis grew better in the mixed-legume and mixed-conifer plantations, while P. rubra grew better in mixed-native and mixed-conifer plantations. Responses of the transplanted seedlings to environmental factors were species specific. The effects of light on seedling survival and growth were correlated with the shade tolerance of the species. Soil moisture was important; it was positively correlated with survival but negatively correlated with growth of C. chinensis seedlings. Growth of C. chinensis and M. chapensis was positively correlated with soil potassium, while growth of P. rubra was positively correlated with soil organic matter but negatively correlated with soil hydrolyzed nitrogen. These findings suggest that we should select suitable native species under the different plantations before improvement of plantations. Light and soil moisture are most important environmental factors for the selection of species specific. Site preparation and fertilizer are needed during the improvement of those plantations.     

蒸馏时间与互叶白千层精油主要化学成分及出油率关系的研究

蒸馏的持续时间是影响互叶白千层精油质量及出油率的重要因素之一。对不同蒸馏时间段收集的互叶白千层精油的化学成分及出油量进行了分析研究。结果表明，随着蒸馏时间段的延长，互叶千层芳香油的主要化学万分的含量及其出油量均下降，在0-120min内，出油率已超过98%,120-150min阶段其出油率不到2%。而高沸点的环烯烃及其醇类却随着蒸馏时间的增加而增加。因而可能通过控制蒸馏时间，提高互叶白千层精油的质量，同时可以降低能耗。