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gENETIC VARIATION IN Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. in a provenance-family trial on SALINE soil

K. MAHMOOD^1*, M.H. NAQVI AND N.E. MARCAR²

Abstract: In a provenance-family trial established on marginally saline soil, 45 seedlots of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., including 44 families from 11 Australian provenances and 1 family from Pakistan, were evaluated for growth and stem straightness at the age of 60 months. Significant differences were found between families as well as provenances for height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and stem straightness. The provenance from De Grey river, Western Australia (WA) showed the best growth. Some individual families from Pakistan, Fitzroy river, WA, Lennard & Baker river, WA, and NE Petford, QLD had comparable growth. Overall mean height was 9.67 m with provenance means range of 10.3 m (De Grey river, WA, NE Petford, QLD and SE Petford, QLD) to 7.2 m (Silverton, NSW). DBH also followed a similar pattern with overall mean value of 7.4 cm and provenance mean range of 9.1 cm (De Grey river, WA) to 5.0 cm for Mt Benstead creek, NT. Stem straightness (scored qualitatively on a four point scale 1-4 with four for the straightest stem) was good with a trial mean value of 2.88 (range from 3.3 for Lennard & Barker river, WA to 2.26 for Newcastle Waters, NT). This study indicates significant genetic differences among the seed sources and thus good potential to improve growth of E. camaldulensis on marginal soils by selection and breeding.

¹Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), P.O. Box 128, Faisalabad, Pakistan

²CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, P.O. Box E4008, Kingston, ACT 2604, Australia