There has been a lot of rumours and unsubstantiated information floating around regarding the effect of Cadaghi trees (Eucalyptus torelliana) on the environment in SEQ and in particular on our native bees. E. torelliana has been declared a pest by Brisbane City Council and I have heard information from a number of sources that the E torelliana pollen makes the bees enter a "drunken" type of state and go around destroying their nests. Others say that the "stuff" they use from the cadaghi tree weakens the nest and causes it to collapse. I have also heard that the Cadaghi is closely related to the Corymbia citirdora and can interbreed with it and that the resultant tree is useless for timber. An internet search revealed that a Brisbane University is researching the crossbreeding of E. torelliana and C citrodora to take advantage of the fast growing and timber values (respectively) of the two species. Can anyone point me in the direction of some "real" information that is substantiated by "real" research. As an extension officer, I am loath to pass on heresay only to find out down the track that they were just unsubstantiated rumours. Call me a sceptic but i'd like to check my facts first and haven't had much luck on the internet.
Thanks in anticipation

Gecko,

Found a couple of articles related to hybridisation which may be of help:

Title: "HYBRIDS BETWEEN EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA HOOK AND EUCALYPTUS-TORELLIANA F-V-MUELL IN INDIA"
Authors: KAPOOR ML, SHARMA VK
Source: SILVAE GENETICA 33 (2-3): 42-46 1984



Author/Editor/Inventor
Verma S K [a]; Sharma V K [a]; Bagchi S K [a].

Institution
[a] Division of Genetics and Tree Propagation, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun India.

Title (English)
Variation in specific gravity of wood in segregating F2 and F3 populations of E. citriodora Hook. X E. torelliana F.V. Muell. hybrids.

Source
Indian Forester. [print] 127(4). April, 2001. 450-456.

Abstract
The present paper reports the variations observed in specific gravity of wood in segregating populations of F2 and F3 hybrids of E. citriodora and E. torelliana. Perhaps this is the first report of its kind so far as the F2 and F3 hybrids of Eucalyptus are concerned. These studies were carried out on 10-year-old plants growing in a field trial laid out in 1987 at New Forest Campus, Dehradun. (Alt. 640m. Lat. 30degree30'40" N, R.F. 216 cm.). A comparison in specific gravity of wood has been made with parent species involved in hybridization. A subtle range in variation in specific gravity of wood was observed due to segregation. The range in specific gravity of wood observed was 0.8144-0.8931 in E. citriodora, 0.6279-0.6590 in E. torelliana and 0.5170-0.6677 for F2 and F3 recombinants. Since a wide spectrum of variation has been observed in individual tree specific gravity of wood belonging to F2 and F3 generation hybrids this has offered ample scope for selection of desired recombinants for different end uses.