RIRDC Completed Projects in 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012 Essential Oils and Plant Extracts

SEPTEMBER 2012 RIRDC Publication No. 12/073

ESSENTIAL OILS AND PLANT EXTRACTS RIRDC Completed Projects in 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012

September 2012

RIRDC Publication No 12/073

© 2012 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-74254-415-1 ISSN 1440-6845

RIRDC completed Projects in 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012 – Essential Oils and Plant Extracts Publication No. 12/073

The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances.

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The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication.

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Researcher Manager Contact Details

Alison Saunders Essential Oils and Plant Extracts Program PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604

Phone:(02) 6271 4124 Fax: (02) 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]

In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form.

RIRDC Contact Details

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600

PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604

Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au

Electronically published by RIRDC in September 2012 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313

ii Foreword

RIRDC produces summaries of completed and continuing projects for each financial year. Our intention is to:

• Provide stakeholders with early access to the results of ongoing and completed work to inform their decisions, and

• Inform researchers of results to shape research direction.

Essential Oils and Plant Extracts RIRDC Completed Projects 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012 contains short summaries of projects funded by the Program. The Program aims to provide R & D to provide the knowledge and skills base for industry to provide high, consistent and known qualities in their essential oils and plant extracts products that respond to market opportunities and enhance profitability.

The objectives for the Essential Oils and Plant Extracts Program are to:

1. Improve production systems to raise productivity and control over product qualities

2. Support the demonstration of safety and effectiveness of Australian products and facilitate the satisfaction of regulatory requirements to enhance market access

3. Support new ideas that provide potential for growing the market for Australian product

4. Improve the industry and research capacity.

This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications most of which are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313.

Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

iii Contents

Completed Projects 2011–2012

Improved production systems

PRJ-008303 Monitoring myrtle rust in a lemon myrtle provenance trial ...... 1

Demonstration of safety and effectiveness and satisfaction of regulatory requirements

PRJ-006257 Bioactive extracts from Australian native plants for the personal care industry ...... 2

Improve industry and research capacity

PRJ-004698 The Melaleuca Book ...... 4

iv Research in Progress at June 2012

Improved production systems

PRJ-004786 Tropical sandalwood silviculture management to minimise fungal attack ...... 6

PRJ-004897 Development of commercial artemisinin production in Australia ...... 7

PRJ-004905 Agronomic and extraction parameters for Centipeda cunninghamii production ...... 8

PRJ-007524 Discovery of genetic resistance markers to myrtle rust in Myrtaceae ...... 9

PRJ-007240 Investigating control options for myrtle rust in native foods ...... 10

Demonstration of safety and effectiveness and satisfaction of regulatory requirements

PRJ-007285 Determination of residues in riberries, lemon and anise myrtle and satin ash ...... 11

Improve the industry and research capacity

PRJ-000462 Production of Newsletter of the Essential Oil Producer's Association of Australia ...... 12

PRJ-004594 Application of molecular genetics to improvement of yield in oil mallees ...... 13

Other supported activities

Collaborative Programs

A range of collaborative projects applicable to the tea tree oil, native foods, essential oils and plant extracts industries as they respond to myrtle rust have been summarised above (PRJ-008303, PRJ- 007524, PRJ-007240 and PRJ-007285). In addition a communications/training package has been compiled for the purposes of myrtle rust training.

PRJ-005158 Development of the Kakadu Plum Industry in Northern Australia (in collaboration with the Dynamic Rural Communities Indigenous Program)

Scholarships

PRJ-008346 RIRDC "Tony Byrne Memorial" Post graduate "top-up" scholarship - Matthew Wilson. This research aims to understand the climatic, topographical and other site-specific factors affecting the production of plant extracts from Tasmannia. lanceolata within a plantation setting.

New Projects

PRJ-008048 Bioactive extracts for the personal care industry; Phase 2.

v

Completed Projects - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-008303 Monitoring myrtle rust in a lemon myrtle provenance trial Start Date: 08/11/2011 Finish Date: 18/05/2012 Researcher: John Doran Organisation: John Doran Email: [email protected] Objectives The principal aim of the project is to identify if there is any naturally inherent myrtle rust resistance in a 1995-96 genepool planting of Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) seedlots and clones at Beerburrum in SE Queensland. Any rust resistant plant types (phenotypes) will be marked in the trial during final assessment in March 2012. It is proposed that, if rust-resistance is found in the taxa, these selections be vegetatively propagated into separate breeding populations in a follow-on project. These populations will form the basis for further studies of rust resistance in this species and be the prime source of rust- resistant cultivars for release to the native food and other industries using Backhousia citriodora. Background Cultivars of B. citriodora currently in use in plantations for native food and essential oil production and in the nursery trade are moderately to highly

susceptible to an exotic rust fungus, Puccinia psidii sensu lato (s.l.) (syn Uredo rangelii), commonly known as myrtle rust. These industries urgently require rust resistant planting stock of this species if they are to maintain production and organic status. Research Variation in incidence and severity of rust attack was found between and within provenances of in a genepool planting of the species at B. citriodora Beerburrum in southeastern Queensland. Families from southern Queensland provenances had a low level of infection in comparison with sources from far northern Queensland. Nineteen plants of one family from Woondum were clear of any rust attack when assessed in May 2012. Outcomes Rust resistant plant types (phenotypes) were marked during the May 2012 assessment for potential transfer by cloning to other sites for further testing.

Recommendations on how best to take advantage of these research findings was presented in the final report. Implications This project has shown that it may be possible to select rust resistant cultivars of to replace the susceptible cultivars that are presently used by the B. citriodora native food, essential oil and nursery industries. Caution is warranted, however, as there is still much to learn about the disease and this was but one assessment of disease incidence and severity at one time. Further research on the phenotypes showing most resistance to attack is recommended The identification in this myrtaceous species of some inherent resistance to myrtle rust offers hope that similar resistance will be found in other Australian species that are presently under heavy fungal attack.

1 Completed Projects - Demonstration of safety and effectiveness and satisfaction of regulatory requirements

PRJ-006257 Bioactive extracts from Australian native plants for the personal care industry Start Date: 30/05/2011 Finish Date: 30/05/2012 Researcher: Hazel MacTavish-West Organisation: MacTavish West Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Objectives This project will produce semi-purified laboratory-scale hydrophilic plant extracts from: 11 different plant biomasses including:

Tasmannia lanceolata berry and leaf Backhousia citriodora leaf Eucalyptus olida leaf Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant) canes Artemisia annua biomass

Plus marc from other extraction activities within Tasmania, available in significant volumes and with high potential anti-oxidant activity including : Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Pyrethrum flower) Artemisia annua steam distilled Perilla frutescens leaf, solvent extracted Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant bud), solvent extracted Tasmannia lanceolata leaf. We will approach fractionation/purification via an activity-led process, using anti-oxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP) and then anti-collagenase, -tyrosinase and - elastase activity, which are valid measures of ‘anti-ageing’ activity. Active fractions will be assessed for chemical profile. We will produce larger volumes of more purified extracts. We will survey global market opportunities for specific extracts, identifying further development required, potential licensing partners and a clear route map for commercialisation. The project aims to provide a selection of new extracts from existing crops and products. Background Earlier unrelated RIRDC Projects had shown high antioxidant activity in various native foods, and several crops were already grown for solvent-extracted or

steam-distilled products; all examined species had complex phytochemistry. There was a gap in the personal care market for anti-ageing natural plant extracts with Australian origin, and the potential market (global skin-care industry) was valued at €0.72bn in 2010 (Kline) and growing. Research We compared the phenolic profile and content and inhibition of enzymes linked with visible signs of ageing in water-soluble extracts from: Tasmannia lanceolata, Backhousia citriodora, Eucalytpus olida leaf, Artemisia annua plant and Ribes nigrum canes and extraction marc from Tasmannia lanceolata, Tanacetum cinerariifolium, Ribes nigrum bud and Artemisia annua. Comparative information was presented to European personal care ingredients supply companies regarding potential interest. Outcomes We have identified the top 5 extracts (Tasmannia lanceolata leaf and marc,

2 Backhousia citriodora leaf, Eucalytpus olida leaf and Ribes nigrum canes and Tanacetum cinerariifolium marc). We have identified the required next activities prior to commercialisation, and established a funnel for examination and market testing of further extracts. Implications The project has shown that new water soluble extracts from current crops yield extracts which are considerably active in terms of inhibition of enzymes which

are implicated in skin ageing. We have also shown considerable market interest in such extracts from Tasmania and Australia.

3 Completed Projects - Improve industry and research capacity

PRJ-004698 The Melaleuca Book Start Date: 13/08/2010 Finish Date: 15/05/2012 Researcher: John Doran Organisation: John Doran Email: [email protected] Objectives The objectives of this project are to collect representative leaf samples of each of the remaining Melaleuca species that have not had their leaf oils analysed,

extract the oils and carry out chemical analyses of these oils by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The data so obtained will then be collated with data from the species already analysed to check for any patterns discerned within groups of species and identify any species that has a potentially commercially useful oil. All the oils data will be combined with relevant morphological data and prepared for publication in book form. If it is possible samples of the seven Melaleuca/Callistemon species occuring in New Caledonia will be obtained through international collaboration thus allowing a complete set of data to be obtained on the genus Melaleuca (species from Lord Howe Island, Papua-New Guinea and Indonesia having already been obtained and analysed). Background Some 290 species and 37 infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca occur in Australia, the Pacific (PNG and New Caledonia) and South East Asia. Many are multi-purpose

plants providing a diversity of uses including brush fencing, ornamental trees and shrubs for gardens and street planting, farm shelterbelts, rehabilitating salt- affected lands, fuelwood, poles and posts, wood for fibre and foliar essential oils. Information on the oils of about 100 species was still lacking, at the commencement of this project in 2010. This was a constraint to completion for the first time a comprehensive text on this important genus covering its botany, essential oils and utilisation. Research Dedicated field work was undertaken in southwestern Western Australia where most of the unsampled species occurred during spring of 2010. Forty-eight of

the required species were collected, leaf samples steam distilled to extract their essential oils which in turn were chemically analysed by gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. A similar number of species were obtained through reliable third parties such that by June 2012 there are only four species and four infraspecific taxa for which there is now no data on their essential oils. As a result of the fieldwork several species (M. halophila, M. hamata, M. ochroma) have been identified as tea tree oil substitute species and may reward further investigation of their oil content and yield, while M. bisulcata is a potential source of linalool. Outcomes A draft manuscript which includes a general introduction followed by detailed descriptions of each of the 290 species of melaleuca and 37 infraspecific taxa

was written and collated during 2010-12, incorporating the new essential oils information as it became available. Most species descriptions include notes on taxonomy, name derivation, botanical description, natural occurrence with map of distribution, ecology, flowering, essential oil chemistry and yield, notes on utilisation and a colour image of flowers and foliage. The draft was reviewed by three experts in April-June 2012 and is presently being revised before submitting to the publisher, ACIAR. Implications The book when published by ACIAR in 2012-13 will provide essential reference material for anyone working with, researching or just interested in

species of the genus Melaleuca. Information on essential oils of 100 taxa will be published for the first time.

4 Publications Brophy JJ, Craven LA, Doran JC (under revision) Melaleuca Species: Their Botany, Essential Oils and Utilisation. ACIAR Monograph. ACIAR (&

RIRDC), Canberra.

5

Research in Progress - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-004786 Tropical sandalwood silviculture management to minimise fungal attack Start Date: 01/08/2010 Finish Date: 01/11/2013 Researcher: Jonathan Brand Organisation: Forest Products Commission Email: [email protected] Objectives To monitor fungal spores in sandalwood plantings in the Ord River Irrigation Scheme area. To review commercial pruning in Tropical sandalwood plantations. To assess growth response of the tropical sandalwood to pruning Assess disease resistance of trees to pruning at different times of the year Assess disease resistance of trees to pruning at different tree ages Assess disease resistance of trees with different pruning methods. Current Progress The first destructive harvest of 20 Indian sandalwood trees growing near Kununurra was completed for the post-wet season treatment, one year after

pruning. Ten trees from each of two separate age groups (1-2 yr & 4-5 yr) were harvested to obtain 3-5 pruning wounds per tree. Longitudinal sections were obtained around each pruning wound. These sections were then sent to Murdoch University, where fungi cultures were obtained from near each wound and are currently being purified for identification. The remaining 60 trees near Kununurra will be harvested in November 2012 and July 2013, representing a post pruning period of 12 and 19 months for the two seasonal treatments. Fungi re-isolated from the inoculation experiment have been identified. In most cases the re-isolated fungi differed in identity to the inoculum, except in the case of two Phellinus treatments and one Pheniophora treatment. This experiment has also formed the basis of further research at UWA, where researchers are examining the chemical composition of reaction zones. The processing of the spore trap contents is ongoing. Molecular identification techniques that will allow for more accurate detection of daily changes within the site and differences between sites are being evaluated.

6 Research in Progress - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-004897 Development of commercial artemisinin production in Australia Start Date: 30/07/2010 Finish Date: 15/05/2013 Researcher: Rowland Laurence Organisation: RC & MJ Laurence Email: [email protected] Objectives To establish an effective seed production program integral with the selection and breeding of genotypes with high leaf artemisinin content To identify a wider range of useful herbicides to secure this aspect of the crop production package for growers To better refine interaction between nitrogen fertiliser regime and plant population. While not included in the objectives of the project currently proposed, the industry stakeholder, BRA, will continue efforts to improve extraction efficiency and develop market options. Current Progress A one-hectare, semi-commercial plot of artemisia was again sown in May 2011. However, nearly all emerged seedlings were killed by residues of MCPA

herbicide, applied during site preparation some three months earlier - a conclusion drawn after noting the survival of plants in an unsprayed area. The crop was re-sown in September, half to a new seed-line bred by NIAB, UK and half to the Swiss hybrid used in the previous season. The crop grew well and was harvested in March 2012. Harvested material has been sent to Essential Oils of Tasmania for extraction. Small plot comparisons have shown the NIAB line to yield poorly, when compared with the Swiss hybrid, but the former is reputed to return higher artemisinin levels than the latter. Botanical Resources Australia's laboratory is currently completing these related analyses. In addition, work last season also has resulted in improved herbicidal and mechanical weed control and glasshouse seed production was also successful. In the coming, final season for the project, seed production will be increased, using a greenhouse to be erected at Forthside Research Station. Also, new seed-lines, selected by York University, will be trialed. Experiments will use transplants to reduce coefficients of variation.

7 Research in Progress - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-004905 Agronomic and extraction parameters for Centipeda cunninghamii production Start Date: 30/05/2010 Finish Date: 30/05/2013 Researcher: Robert Spooner-Hart Organisation: University of Western Sydney Email: [email protected] Objectives To evaluate the three currently selected and grown phenotypes of C. cunninghamii, to determine which is superior, based on agronomic and chemical characteristics, with a view to its adoption as the industry standard To identify key pests and diseases, with a view to their management To investigate current agronomic practices (particularly fertilizer use and irrigation) to maximise yield To determine optimal harvest time to maximise yield and phytochemical quality Current Progress The second season field and pot trials were successfully completed. Transplanting in the trials occurred in October 2011. For field trials, 3 separate

sites with different soil type and topography were selected, with 2 in East Gippsland and one in Thornton, Central Vic. Each site trialled 3 Centipeda cunninghamii phenotypes, and at East Gippsland we compared plastic mulch with no mulch, in a planting density trial, in which 4 planting densities were assessed. There were 2 harvest times: mid January and February, 2012 for the Gippsland sites. The pot trials comprised: a phenotype trial (3 phenotypes x 8 replicates); a high and normal potassium (K) trial (1 phenotype x 2 levels of K x 8 replicates), and an irrigation trial (1 phenotype x 2 irrigation schedules x 8 replicates). There were 2 harvest times for all treatments. Weather data and pests and diseases were recorded at all sites during the trial period. Fresh weights at harvest and oven-dry weights of all samples were recorded. Dried samples were sent to Southern Cross University laboratories where they are being extracted so that the yield and levels of bioactives can be determined. A field day has been planned on the Gippsland site for late November 2012.

8 Research in Progress - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-007524 Discovery of genetic resistance markers to myrtle rust in Myrtaceae Start Date: 19/09/2011 Finish Date: 30/09/2014 Researcher: William Foley Organisation: Australian National University Email: [email protected] Objectives The project aims to (i) identify resistant and susceptible plants in four economically important Australian plant species, (ii) identify markers of genetic resistance to myrtle rust and (iii) develop cheap and rapid methods to screen material for these markers and to make those methods available to Australian industry (iv) test the degree to which resistance can be induced in otherwise susceptible material via application of acibenzolar-S-methyl (“Bion”). Current Progress This work remains in the preliminary phase. The genetic work cannot proceed until we have identified putative resistant material and exposed this to rust. At

present seedlings of medicinal tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) are being grown ready for exposure to rust when they mature. We are awaiting advice on likely sources of resistant lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) based on an existing trial being assessed by Dr John Doran. We are still sourcing suitable material of the other two target species, riberry (Syzygium luehmannii), and anise myrtle (Syzygium anisatum). Many of the naturally occurring oils interfere with the extraction of RNA from Myrtaceae. For example the methods used to obtain RNA from Melaleuca work poorly with Eucalypts. However we have trialled two new methods that appear to work well for the four target species and so we do not expect any major difficulties in extracting sufficient RNA for the transcriptomic work as soon as we have identified the resistant material.

9 Research in Progress - Improved Production Systems

PRJ-007240 Investigating control options for myrtle rust in native foods Start Date: 19/09/2011 Finish Date: 30/09/2013 Researcher: Peter Entwistle Organisation: North East Agricultural Services Email: [email protected] Objectives To enhance production systems and to maintain the competitiveness of lemon myrtle and syzigium producers by: 1. Assessing the impact of myrtle rust on commercial plantations. 2. Identifying and trialling of effective control alternatives for myrtle rust in commercial plantations. 3. Determining the effectiveness of commercial fungicides in controlling myrtle rust in plantations impacted by myrtle rust. Current Progress The monitoring sites to determine the impact of the rust were set up in Bagotville, Casino, Dunoon for lemon myrtle and Tullera for aniseed myrtle.

The sites were set up in October 2011. The rust incidence has been quite variable to date but in most cases severity coincides with peaks in growth. Rust incidence and severity has risen significantly in the recent Autumn period. Estimates of yield decline in lemon myrtle crops without treatments imposed vary from 30%-%70 reduction in biomass. Aniseed myrtle crops are suffering to a greater extent and without treatment after harvest severe losses and some stump death may occur. Plantations that are using chemical fungicides are generally more productive and some cases have experienced excellent growth. The initial set of rust control trials were carried out starting in late October and proceeded through the summer months. The treatments were imposed twice over 14 days and replicated three or four times. Incidence and severity of rust was scored for each treatment. The treatments included hyrdrogen peroxide, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, microbe sprays, two forms of copper, a tea tree based formulation and paraffinic oil. All treatments appeared to have some impact on the rust with slight reductions in sporulation recorded soon after applications. The two copper formulations were the only treatments to give significant control of the rust but mainly when low levels were present prior to application. Other treatments were little different from the control within a few days of application. The monitoring of efficacy in the MRL trial has shown that triadimenol and propiconazole are the most effective fungicides. Azoxystrobin and difenoconazole are slightly less effective but still give adequate rust control.

10 Research in Progress - Demonstration of safety and effectiveness and satisfaction of regulatory requirements

PRJ-007285 Determination of residues in riberries, lemon and anise myrtle and satin ash Start Date: 30/06/2009 Finish Date: 31/07/2013 Researcher: Rodney Burn Organisation: AgriSolution Australia Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Objectives The objective of this project is to generate data on the residue levels of triadimenol, azoxystrobin, propiconazole, cyproconazole, triforine and difenconazole in riberries, lemon myrtle and anise myrtle products. The data is required to support an application for a minor use permit allowing the use of products containing the above chemicals on riberries, lemon myrtle and anise myrtle for the control of Myrtle Rust. Current Progress The site 1 trial in riberries at Cooroy Qld was started on the 19th of December 2011 and the final specimens were collected on the 16th of January 2012.

The site 2 trial in Satin Ash was started on the 19th of December 2011 and the final specimens were collected on the 16th of January 2012. The site 3 trial in lemon myrtle at The Channing NSW was started on the 17th of December 2011 and the final specimens were collected on the 14th of January 2012. All specimens have been delivered to AgriSolutions Australia laboratory at Deception Bay, Qld. The specimens were homogenised on receipt and placed into a freezer at < -18 degrees C. Untreated control specimens were spiked with known amounts of reference item and stored in the same freezer. These will be analysed at the same time as the treated specimens to provide storage stability data. The remaining three trials will commence in spring 2012 and once those specimens are received, analysis of all specimens will be conducted. The final report will then be prepared and issued.

11 Research in Progress - Improve the industry and research capacity

PRJ-000462 Production of Newsletter of the Essential Oil Producer's Association of Australia Start Date: 02/01/2006 Finish Date: 15/06/2013 Researcher: Ian Southwell Organisation: Phytoquest Email: [email protected] Objectives To produce 4 issues of the newsletter over the 2011-2013 period of 2 years Current Progress Newsletter No. 24 was submitted to RIRDC as an electronic copy on 21 December 2011 and printed as hardcopy and distributed to members shortly

after. (36 pages). Data for Newsletter No. 25 has been collected and will soon be collated for distribution in June/July 2012. The newsletter continued to update members with current information and bring them together with a means whereby they can share key facets of the industry. Such information dissemination is stimulating the growth and development of the natural products industry. Thus the newsletters became valuable vehicles for the adoption of R&D findings as commercial reality. Each issue included details about: Recent conferences dealing with essential oils (both research oriented as well as industry oriented); Company news and general trade information; Regulatory matters such as NICNAS developments, SCCP opinions especially for for Tea tree etc ; Standards Australia matters: new standards (Australian as well as international); Information on recently published articles on essential oils of interest to Australian producers; RIRDC news items; Details of conferences on essential oils and related matters scheduled for the next 12 months.

12 Research in Progress – Improve the industry and research capacity

PRJ-004594 Application of molecular genetics to improvement of yield in oil mallees Start Date: 06/05/2009 Finish Date: 30/06/2012 Researcher: William Foley Organisation: Australian National University Email: [email protected] Objectives The project aims to (i) identify gene variants associated with enhanced yield in Eucalyptus loxophleba (ii) conduct an audit of research capacity and in particular chemical analytical skills for essential oils in Australia and (iii) conduct National Workshops in “Plant Volatile Chemistry, Biology and Analysis” to enhance skills in the industry Current Progress Oil mallees provide multiple benefits to landscapes and farmers through their impacts on water tables and via valuable products such as 1,8-cineole, biomass and charcoal. This project aims to use recent breakthroughs in understanding how cineole is made by plants to identify genetic markers associated with a high yield of cineole in Eucalyptus loxophleba. The types of markers sought are called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. A single-nucleotide polymorphism is a DNA sequence variation occurring when a single nucleotide — A, T, C, or G — in the genome differs between individuals of a species. By examining a large number of individual trees we can find SNPs in the genes responsible for oil synthesis and correlate the occurrence of these SNPs with variations in oil yield. Using DNA sequencing, we have identified all SNPs in 7 genes of the pathways that lead to the production of cineole in about 400 individuals of E. loxophleba from a common garden established at Narrogin WA. All oil analysis for these individuals has been completed and co-investigators from Department of Environment in WA are tabulating the data. Once this is done, we will be able to match the SNP s with the variations in oil yield using a statistical procedure called association mapping. This should reveal specific markers that can be used by tree breeders to enhance the section of high yielding plants.

13 RIRDC Completed Projects in 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012 Edited by RIRDC

Pub. No. 12/073 RIRDC produces summaries of completed and continuing projects for each financial year. Our intention is to: • provide stakeholders with early access to the results of ongoing and completed work to inform their decisions, and • inform researchers of results to shape research direction. Essential Oils and Plant Extracts RIRDC Completed Projects 2011–12 and Research in Progress at June 2012 contains short summaries of projects funded by the Program. The Program aims to provide RD&E to provide the knowledge and skills base for industry to provide high, consistent and known qualities in their essential oils and plant extracts products that respond to market opportunities and enhance profitability. RIRDC is a partnership between government and industry to invest in R&D for more productive and sustainable rural industries. We invest in new and emerging rural industries, a suite of established rural industries and national rural issues.

Most of the information we produce can be downloaded for free or purchased from our website .

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