Dr Zander Myburg (front row, centre) with Eucalyptus researchers attending the IEuGC founding meeting in Hobart, Tasmania.

The Eucalyptus research community looks set to benefit from a second eucalypt genome sequencing effort in the near future. Led by its Scientific Coordinator, Dr Zander Myburg, an ACGT contributor at UP, the International Eucalyptus Genome Consortium (IEuGC) has submitted a proposal to the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to generate a draft sequence of the genome of Eucalyptus grandis. The proposal was supported by 62 letters from 55 organisations in 15 countries.

The IEuGC was invited to submit a proposal at its last business meeting during the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Tree Biotechnology 2005 meeting in Pretoria, where DOE scientist, Dr Jerry Tuskan, announced that JGI would consider a proposal for a Eucalyptus genome sequencing project in the context of the 'Genomes to Energy' focus area of its recently launched Laboratory Science Program (LSP).

According to Dr Myburg, fast-growing Eucalyptus tree species such as Eucalyptus grandis are excellent candidates for the 'Genomes to Energy' focus of LSP. This is due to the fact that they are the most widely planted hardwood species in the world and important commercial targets for carbon sequestration. "The availability of a draft sequence of the E. grandis genome will generate extraordinary opportunities for reaching a much higher level of understanding of the unique biology of forest trees. It will have obvious implications for eucalypt-based production forestry as well as environmentally relevant issues such as carbon sequestration and water use efficiency of eucalypt plantations", he said.

The IEuGC was formed on 16 July 2004 in Hobart, Australia at a Eucalyptus Genome Meeting, which followed the 2nd Symposium on Eucalypt Molecular Genetics. The Consortium was founded in view of an Australian initiative to obtain funding for the sequencing of the Eucalyptus (E. globulus) genome, which later proved to be unsuccessful. Soon afterwards, however, Oji Paper and Kazusa DNA Research Institute in Japan announced that they had already started a project to produce a draft genome sequence of an E. camaldulensis tree. This again stimulated interest in consortium-based projects to develop genetic and physical mapping resources still lacking in Eucalyptus. On 1 August 2007, it was decided, based on a member survey, that the name of the IEuGC will be permanently changed to the Eucalyptus Genome Network (EUCAGEN).

ACGT contributors will take active roles in the genome sequencing initiative and generation of eucalypt genomics resources after the completion of the draft genome sequence. Dr Fourie Joubert of the Pretoria Node of the National Bioinformatics Network will contribute towards the generation of a bioinformatics resource for EUCAGEN, and Dr Zander Myburg will contribute towards the high-density genetic mapping of the E. grandis genome.

For more information on the Eucalyptus Genome Network, email Dr Zander Myburg.