WHAT ARE HYBRID CLONES?

A hybrid is a cross between two distinct species. The main eucalypt species we are interested in for Uganda are E. grandis (G), E. camaldulensis (C) and E. urophylla (U). E. grandis is nearly always the mother tree in the hybrid crosses. The two

hybrids we are most interested in are GxU and GxC – hereafter GU and GC. Some of the GU and GC hybrids combine the best traits of each parent and it is the best of these that we want to copy – or clone. Clones are plants produced vegetatively

(i.e. asexually) from a common ancestor. The most common method is by rooting cuttings from the parent tree. All the cuttings produced from one parent are genetically identica

Pest and diseases:

 One of the most serious diseases of E. tereticornis is canker caused by fungus, Corticium salmonicolour known as pink disease. Other fungal pathogens known to cause damage include, Ganaderma lucidium, Endothia gyrosa and Cylindrocladium spp. Cylindrocladium clavatum has been recorded to cause seed rot, seedling blight and seedling wilt of E. tereticornis in Punjab. Other potentially serious diseases are web blight (Rhizoctonia solani) in the nursery and stem canker caused by Cryphonectria and Cytospora eucalyptiocola which can cause heavy mortality.

 Among insects, ceranbycis beetle, Celstems scabrator is reported to attack young plants in plantations. Subterranean termites are reported to damage seedlings and young plants of the species.