The Foundation

Forest Genetics CellFor Ltd sells young radiata pine plants to forest growers, either as bare root cuttings or individually containerised cuttings of improved varieties. Our Production Varieties developed for New Zealand and Australia are derived from top crosses of New Zealand Radiata Pine Breeding Company (www.rpbc.co.nz) breeding parents, which are themselves of genetically superior quality. We are an active member of the Breeding Company, and have full access to Breeding Company germplasm and R&D Data.

Commercial development of our Production Varieties represents the third step change in quality of genetically improved radiata pine available to forest growers. The first step was the development of open-pollinated seed orchards, where seed was produced from genetically superior mothers identified in breeding trials. The second step was the production of top crosses, where seed was produced from superior mothers and fathers and multiplied using rooted cutting technology. The third step is represented by our improved Production Varieties.