Eucalyptus

12 Oregon State University scientists are studying genome sequencing in the eucalyptus tree. The team used the high-performance computing facility in Oregon State's Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing to assign functions to a type of tree's 36,000-plus genes. They identified which genes correspond to biological processes that underpin control of growth rate, wood hardness, flowering and other attributes. The tree they are studying is the eucalyptus and I learned something about this very important tree species from genetic researcher, Dr. Steve Strauss distinguished professor of forest biotechnology in the College of Forestry. "Among forest trees, the eucalyptus is either number one or number two, depending upon who is doing the counting of the most widely planted tree in the world. Probably number one is behind and number two, not far behind is eucalyptus. There are several species in each of those groups. You have a hugely important tree for timber, for paper, I think it is the most important species for good paper like photocopy paper, and then for energy it has lots and lots of uses so it is planted very widely. It is big in the southern hemisphere, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, where it comes from." Most of them are subtropical so you don't see that many of them in places like the NW, but globally in terms of wood in the global energy supply, they're huge.