Water relations of Eucalyptus nitens x Eucalyptus grandis: is there interclonal variation in response to experimentally imposed water stress?

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that water stress increases the hydraulic efficiency of Eucalyptus nitens x E. grandis saplings as a result of osmotic and elastic adjustments. Eucalyptus nitens x E. grandis clones (NH00, NH58, NH69 and NH70) were potted in coarse river sand supplemented with a slow-release fertiliser, drip-irrigated four times daily and exposed to full sunlight for eight months. Thereafter, irrigation was withheld twice for seven consecutive days from half of the saplings of each clone, with a seven-day recovery period (regular irrigation) in-between. Relative soil moisture content did not correlate with stomatal conductance (g_s) at pre-dawn and at midday. Leaves of plants subjected to the water-stress treatment wilted in 7 d, and the reduction in g_s was significant at midday with no significant differences between clones. Stomatal conductance and all traits derived from pressure-volume graphs (e.g. osmotic potential at full turgor) were constant in the control treatment. There were no clear patterns in osmotic and elastic adjustments in both treatments. Root hydraulic conductance was constant between treatments and clones. However, water stress reduced shoot hydraulic conductance and stem hydraulic conductivity with significant interclonal effects. Plant biomass, leaf area and leaf weight ratio were significantly lower in the water-stressed plants, but there were no differences between the clones. In conclusion, the waterstress treatment did not introduce significant differences in stomatal conductance and tissue-water relations of Eucalyptus nitens x E. grandis clones. Interclonal variation in water-stress response was found in shoot hydraulic traits, and clone NH58 may be more suitable for planting across sites prone to moderate water stress.

Keywords: bulk elastic modulus, elastic adjustment, hydraulic conductance, osmotic adjustment, relative water content, stomatal conductance

Southern Forests 2013, 75(4): 213–220