Insect Resistance Traits of Eucalyptus for the NSW Plantation Industry

Expansion of Eucalyptus plantations to meet Australia's needs for wood fibre depends on controlling insect pests in a sustainable manner. Exploiting a tree's natural resistance to insect attack is one of the few methods available to do so. Although there is clear evidence that some trees are resistant, we can't explain why that is nor screen planting stock for resistance. This project aims to characterise resistance in planting stock of E. dunnii and E. grandis, evaluate whether there is cross resistance amongst insects and to develop methods of predicting the likelihood that planting stock will be resistant in the field.