KFRI Research Report No - Kerala Forest Research Institute

ABSTRACTAbout 22 ha of eucalypt provenance trial plots raised at Kodanad (Malayattur),Muthanga (Wayanad) and Vallakkadavu (Peermedu) during 1990, 1992 and 1993using seeds obtained from CSIRO, Australia, were maintained during 1998-2003under this project. There were 78 provenances comprising E. tereticornis (20provenances), E. camaldulensis (22 provenances), E. urophylla (8 provenances), E.pellita (10 provenances) and E. grandis (20 provenances). Two provenance trialscomprising A. auriculiformis (11 provenances), A. mangium (12 provenances), A.aulacocarpa (A. peregrina) (8 provenances) and A. crassicarpa (7 provenances)raised during 1997 at Kodanad (4 ha) and Kulathupuzha (2 ha) were also maintainedduring the second phase (2001-2003). Plots for maintenance also included eucalyptclonal multiplication area (1 ha), clonal germplasm bank (0.5 ha), both at Kodanad,and mist chamber and hardening units at Kodanad and Devikulam, established formass multiplying eucalypt and acacia clones for lowlands and high ranges,respectively. In addition to the maintenance work such as weeding and making fireline, activities such as recording data on growth measurements and disease resistance,development of new clones, mass multiplication of clones and supply of clones to theForest Department and Hindustan Newsprint Ltd, Kottayam were also carried out.Based on adaptability, growth performance and disease tolerance, eucalyptand acacia provenances suitable for raising plantations in Kerala had been identifiedat the age of 4 years and reported to the silviculture wing of Kerala ForestDepartment. Those provenances had shown consistently better performance duringsubsequent years also. The same provenances have shown similar performance whenthey were planted in separate trial plots during different periods. A few of the E.urophylla and E. pellita provenances have shown better performance than E.tereticornis. Considering the yield and the unique quality of water conservationpossessed by E. urophylla and to a lesser extent by E. pellita, and their desirable treearchitecture, the currently raised plantations of E. tereticornis can be replaced withthese two species. E. camaldulensis is unsuitable for planting in Kerala because ofsevere leaf blight disease caused by Cylindrocladium spp. and pink disease caused byi