Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: Graft compatibility, survival and height of tall eucalypt species grafted onto shorter rootstocks

Stephen J Trueman; Tracey V McMahon; Elektra L Grant; David Walton; Helen M Wallace

doi:10.1071/BT14060

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Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: Graft compatibility, survival and height of tall eucalypt species grafted onto shorter rootstocks

Journal article

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Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: Graft compatibility, survival and height of tall eucalypt species grafted onto shorter rootstocks

Stephen J Trueman, Tracey V McMahon, Elektra L Grant, David Walton and Helen M Wallace

Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.62(3), pp.196-204

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT14060

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Abstract

corymbia

dwarfing rootstock

eucalyptus

grafting

phascolarctos cinereus

street trees

The Corymbia and Eucalyptus species eaten by koalas are generally large trees, but these are often unpopular with urban landowners and councils because of the dangers of limbs falling from a great height. We aimed to develop shorter koala food and habitat trees for urban areas by heterografting tall eucalypt species onto rootstocks of shorter species and comparing their survival and growth with homografted trees and control ungrafted trees. In total, 12 of 14 interspecific scion/rootstock combinations were grafted successfully in the nursery but graft compatibility and field survival depended on taxonomic relatedness. The six interspecific combinations that had multiple surviving trees at 5 years after planting were all between species within the same taxonomic section or between a species and its own interspecific hybrid. Almost all trees died from grafts between species in different taxonomic sections. In most cases, the height of surviving interspecific grafted trees did not differ from control intraspecific grafted trees or from ungrafted trees of their scion species. Grafting elicited a 'thrive or not survive' response that diminished its usefulness for producing shorter trees. However, one combination, E. moluccana/E. behriana, had field survival of 40% and reduced height (4.0m vs 9.9m). These could be valuable habitat trees for koalas and other fauna in urban areas.

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Title: Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: Graft compatibility, survival and height of tall eucalypt species grafted onto shorter rootstocks
Authors: Stephen J Trueman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Tracey V McMahon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Elektra L Grant (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
David Walton (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Helen M Wallace (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.62(3), pp.196-204
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/BT14060
ISSN: 0067-1924
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448859302621
Output Type: Journal article

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