after having successfully produced genetically improved clones of eucalyptus trees, itc Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Limited (itc-bpl) is now developing hybrid seedlings of the species. The company plans large-scale commercial production of the eucalyptus hybrids in a couple of years.

Piare Lal, itc-bpl vice-president (plantations), said the hybrids had been developed through controlled pollination between the selected clones of the tree. "At present, 105 hybrid clones are under field evaluation and many hybrids are showing extremely good promise,' he said. According to Lal, the hybrid clones are estimated to yield up to one-and-a-half times more than the "Bhadrachalam clones' developed by the company.