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Cypresses

  • Speciality Species
Cypresses (especially Cupressus macrocarpa) have long been a New Zealand favourite for a range of uses, but the resource established in the early 20th century is dwindling fast.

C. macrocarpa is badly affected by canker in some parts of New Zealand, so canker-tolerance is a key breeding priority to restore grower confidence. New cypress hybrids have the potential to deliver increased vigour, canker tolerance, and good solid wood properties.

  • Identification of canker-resistant genotypes
  • Turnover of breeding populations
  • New hybrid cuttings released for trial plantings
  • Utilising young timber, and thermal modification of timber to increase durability.
  • industry survey and workshop leading to a new cypress strategy – ‘Whakamahere Cypress – 2022-2042’ which identifies research and market development priorities
  • making new canker-tolerant selections of C. macrocarpa and C. lusitanica: establishing three new C. macrocarpa trials to test canker tolerant genotypes
  • confirming that thermally modifying C. lusitanica sapwood and heartwood significantly improves durability
  • testing bending strength and stiffness of young Ovens cypress (a canker-tolerant C. lusitanica hybrid now being deployed but with a lack of information about its timber properties)
  • producing and deploying new cypress hybrids in trials on numerous farm forestry properties.

Explore SWP and ITP outputs:

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