Timber

The world market for forestry is massive, with plantations requiring nearly nine billion seedlings annually, despite most timber being harvested from native forests. Most of these plantations are from unimproved seed. The use of genetically improved seeds leads to large improvements in growth rates and quality. Where clonal systems are available, such as with hybrid aspen and tropical eucalypts, massive improvements are obtained.

In forestry many costs are generally fixed - including land purchase, site preparation, plantation establishment and management. Quite modest improvements in growth can therefore translate into relatively large improvements in profitability. Using NuPlant’s SmartClone™ approach, the forest industry can in principle be changed from a relatively low return industry to one of high return.

Teak

NuPlant has developed over several years tissue culture systems for teak, Tectonagrandis, and has clearly demonstrated the viability of its SmartClone™ system with this species. Teak plantlets produced through the SmartClone™ system show enhanced robustness for easier transfer ex-vitro and a head-start for nursery growth. Compared to typical tissue-culture products, SmartClone™ teak plantlets have thicker stems (up to three-fold diameter), multiple functional roots, and photosynthetic leaves – biomass is up to 10-fold higher. Nursery attrition is insignificant, labour steps are usually reduced, and residence time shortened.

 Eucalyptus

NuPlant has successfully propagated eucalyptus species such as E. grandis, E. urophylla, E. camaldulensis, and some varieties of E. globulus, together with their hybrids, and are generally well-suited to propagation through the SmartClone™ system.

Pines

A number of Pinus species such as P. radiata and P. taeda are well-suited to propagation using the SmartClone™ process. Used in combination with somatic embryogenesis as a source of juvenile plants, production costs can be reduced massively.

SmartClone™ - Tougher plantlets faster

SmartClone™ changes the tissue culture paradigm. NuPlant’s key technology allows conditions to be customized for each growth phase for more robust plantlets, grading for uniformity, robotic handling for laboratory efficiency, easy soil transfer, and a head start for accelerated nursery growth.