Potential gains through selecting for resistance in spotted gum to Quambalaria pitereka

Quambalaria shoot blight, caused by the fungus Quambalaria pitereka, is a serious disease affecting the expanding eucalypt plantation estate in subtropical and tropical eastern Australia. Trees that are severely infected are often multi-stemmed and stunted and infection of young trees may give rise to poor form in mature trees. A spotted gum clonal trial provided the opportunity to investigate the impact of the disease on tree growth and factors influencing tree architecture (tree form), which affects wood quality. We measured the effect that Q. pitereka infection during plantation establishment (up to 6 months old) has on growth and tree architecture and productivity to age 3 years. Our results show that the pathogen has a significant impact on trees at plantation establishment, which results in a negative impact on wood quality, potentially reducing merchantable value at final harvest. Tree growth and form was significantly improved where germplasm with low susceptibility to Q. pitereka infection was used

Finite element analysis of stress-related degrade during drying of Corymbia citriodora and Eucalyptus obliqua

With the use of experimental wood properties and input moisture content field data, a predictive 3D stress–strain finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed allowing to predict the development of stress-related end splitting and surface checking degrade during conventional and vacuum wood drying. Simulations were carried out for two Australian hardwood species, messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) and spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora), as these species contrast, in terms of wood properties, drying rates and stress degrade susceptibility. The simulations were performed using a 1/8 symmetry model where the full board dimensions are 1900 mm long × 30 mm thick × 100 mm wide. Moisture content field data model simulations were utilised in a three-dimensional FEA model by extruding a 2D moisture content field computed in the T–L plane across the radial direction to create a 3D model. Material mechanical properties and shrinkage were calculated in relation to moisture content, over discrete time intervals, using a quasi-static solver. End split failure was investigated at the board end, and surface check failure at the board surface, using a Tsai–Wu failure criterion. Simulations showed that messmate was more susceptible to end splitting than spotted gum and that conventionally dried messmate was more susceptible to surface checking than vacuum-dried messmate. The same results were observed from drying trials. The locations of predicted surface check failure also matched drying trials and are compared