Activities completed in the reporting period have included • seed collections from six Acacia mangium seed production areas (SPAs) in Vietnam • germination and raising of over 2000 seedlings from the SPAs at RCFTI, Hanoi • further training of four Vietnamse staff in molecular techniques in Hanoi • extraction at RCFTI of DNA from 70 maternal parent trees and 700 progeny from the SPAs • design of field trials for planting of seedlings to allow assessment of inbreeding depression • arrangements made for training of RCFTI staff in Canberra in October 2001. . | Project Title Code Strengthening Institutional Capacity in the Production of Improved Forest Tree Germplasm in Vietnam through Application of Molecular Genetics Technology Australian Personnel Dr Chris Harwood Project Leader Dr Penny Butcher Australian Institution CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products Vietnam Institution Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement RCFTI -Vietnam Institute of Forest Sciences Project Duration September 2000 - August 2002 Executive Summary Activities completed in the reporting period have included seed collections from six Acacia mangium seed production areas SPAs in Vietnam germination and raising of over 2000 seedlings from the SPAs at RCFTI Hanoi further training of four Vietnamse staff in molecular techniques in Hanoi extraction at RCFTI of DNA from 70 maternal parent trees and 700 progeny from the SPAs design of field trials for planting of seedlings to allow assessment of inbreeding depression arrangements made for training of RCFTI staff in Canberra in October 2001. Dr Chris Harwood visited Vietnam in May 2001 to work with RCFTI scientists to complete the collection of leaf and seed from the six SPAs and supervise procedures for extraction and labelling of seeds and germination of seedlings. Dr Penny Butcher visited Vietnam in September 2001 to continue training of four scientists from RCFTI in molecular techniques supervise and assist with DNA extractions. The DNA extractions from 70 maternal trees and 700 progeny were completed using the Fast Prep machine and quantified using the fluorometer purchased in the first phase of the project. The new laboratory built at RCFTI in Hanoi and the equipment installed through the project were adequate for the molecular work. Additional equipment sequencing gel apparatus is being purchased for DNA fingerprinting to allow the techniques acquired under the CARD project to be used for routine monitoring of RCFTI breeding programs. Project Description The Overall Goal of the project is to .
