Post Graduate \’top-up\’ Scholarship – D. Kainer

Summary

Post Graduate 'topup' Scholarship in Evolutionary Genetics. "New approach to genetic assisted breeding in Oil Mallee" The primary Oil Mallee species for commercial Eucalyptus oil production in Australia, Eucalyptus polybractea, has had little breeding selection to boost yield above that which has occurred through natural selection. Next Generation Sequencing and Genome Wide Association techniques will be used to develop a genetic marker map for key traits such as oil yield, plant survivability, growth rate and biomass.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

Australian National University

Objective Summary

The goal is to define a premium genotype for improved breeding of E. polybractea, which may lead to a significant boost in productivity and profitability for Australian Oil Mallee plantations. Similar techniques can be applied to many commercially significant species.