We successfully tracked the identities of more than 550 selected 13-year-old trees from a Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) progeny trial through tree felling, harvesting of butt logs, and sawmill processing to finished sawn boards using a two-stage approach. To track log identity from the standing tree to the log yard, we used a numbered under-bark wooden identification plug, glued into a hole drilled in the trunk prior to harvesting. To track tree identity for individual sawn boards, log-end templates with corresponding tree identification numbers were glued to the log ends before milling. Materials and methods used withstood harvesting and debarking, log transportation, milling, air and kiln drying, steam reconditioning, and final machining. A second study confirmed the success of the under-bark plug method to successfully track 548 selected standing trees through harvesting and transportation to the mill.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Forestry sciences
Research Field:	Tree improvement (incl. selection and breeding)
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Forestry
Objective Field:	Hardwood plantations
UTAS Author:	Blackburn, DP (Dr David Blackburn)
ID Code:	75896
Year Published:	2010
Web of Science® Times Cited:	2
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2012-02-20
Last Modified:	2012-02-20
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