Slash x Honduras Caribbean pine hybrids: an overview of nursery production systems Southeast Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Forestry has a requirement to produce 4.5 million trees per year for its plantation production program. This stock is raised at DPI Forestry nurseries in the southeast and far north of Queensland. To improve the productivity of its plantation estate, DPI Forestry has invested significant resources in the development of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii x. caribaea var. hondurensis (PEE x PCH) F. and FZ hybrid families and clones as well as associated delivery systems, including extensive clonal testing and hedge multiplication programs. More recently, it has commenced small-scale trials to produce "micro-cuttings." Past and present production techniques, including open-root, containerized seedling and cutting systems, and approaches to hedge management are presented in this paper.