Clonal forestry is the deployment of selected and proven clones in plantation forestry. Operational clonal forestry, in India, is now over four decades old, although multiplication of venerated trees like the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) using stem cuttings has been practiced for centuries. Later the practice was used as a management tool for in situ cloning of some tree species. The current level of clonal forestry of selected trees is based on better understanding and exploitation of juvenile-maturity phase, genetically improved clones, sophisticated infrastructure for cloning and skill developed in cloning techniques. Operationally, clonal forestry is a complete package interlinking activities from the collection of suitable starting propagules/explants to their final deployment in plantations. For timber production, mature trees of selected clones are first rejuvenated by serial propagation or micropropagation before being inducted in propagation facilities. Use of macro-propagation methods especially stem cutting is the most common propagation method deployed in most propagation facilities, whereas micropropagation methods have yet to be picked up for commercial use. Planting stock production uses a standard operating procedure (SOP) for cutting production, cutting preparation, conditioning, treatment, rooting media, containers, rooting in mist chambers, conditioning in hardening chambers and transportation to plantation sites. This chapter describes the evolution of clonal forestry with examples drawn from mass multiplied species like poplar, eucalyptus and melia. It also cites example of two pest epidemics, namely gall wasp infection on eucalyptus clones and leaf blight on G3 clone of Populus deltoides which infested clones from production system and quickly replaced by newly developed clones. Clonal forestry under Indian conditions is practiced by thousands of farmers on small farm holdings which exhibit a mosaic of multiple clones that has had better opportunity in handling pest epidemics on narrow genetic base of selected clones on isolated land patches. Of recent, the awareness on registration of newly developed clones has significantly increased and newly developed clones are increasingly registered with national and international agencies. Field testing of genetically modified rubber tree in eastern India has also been attempted which may open up new scientific and operational opportunities in clonal forestry. Approximately 200 million eucalyptus and 20 million of poplar clonal plants are currently planted annually which are effectively managed with standard silvicultural operations for attaining high productivity that indicates the evolving strength of clonal forestry in the country.

Clonal Forestry

章节
发表日期：

2025年

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R. C. Dhiman

摘要

Clonal forestry is the deployment of selected and proven clones in plantation forestry. Operational clonal forestry, in India, is now over four decades old, although multiplication of venerated trees like the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) using stem cuttings has been practiced for centuries. Later the practice was used as a management tool for in situ cloning of some tree species. The current level of clonal forestry of selected trees is based on better understanding and exploitation of juvenile-maturity phase, genetically improved clones, sophisticated infrastructure for cloning and skill developed in cloning techniques. Operationally, clonal forestry is a complete package interlinking activities from the collection of suitable starting propagules/explants to their final deployment in plantations. For timber production, mature trees of selected clones are first rejuvenated by serial propagation or micropropagation before being inducted in propagation facilities. Use of macro-propagation methods especially stem cutting is the most common propagation method deployed in most propagation facilities, whereas micropropagation methods have yet to be picked up for commercial use. Planting stock production uses a standard operating procedure (SOP) for cutting production, cutting preparation, conditioning, treatment, rooting media, containers, rooting in mist chambers, conditioning in hardening chambers and transportation to plantation sites. This chapter describes the evolution of clonal forestry with examples drawn from mass multiplied species like poplar, eucalyptus and melia. It also cites example of two pest epidemics, namely gall wasp infection on eucalyptus clones and leaf blight on G3 clone of Populus deltoides which infested clones from production system and quickly replaced by newly developed clones. Clonal forestry under Indian conditions is practiced by thousands of farmers on small farm holdings which exhibit a mosaic of multiple clones that has had better opportunity in handling pest epidemics on narrow genetic base of selected clones on isolated land patches. Of recent, the awareness on registration of newly developed clones has significantly increased and newly developed clones are increasingly registered with national and international agencies. Field testing of genetically modified rubber tree in eastern India has also been attempted which may open up new scientific and operational opportunities in clonal forestry. Approximately 200 million eucalyptus and 20 million of poplar clonal plants are currently planted annually which are effectively managed with standard silvicultural operations for attaining high productivity that indicates the evolving strength of clonal forestry in the country.