Comparisons of growth of Eucalyptus camaldulensis from seeds and tissue culture: root, shoot and leaf morphology of 9-month-old plants grown in deep sand and sand over clay

Abstract

Comparisons of early growth of tissue culture clones and seedlings of Eucalyptus camaldulensis indicated strong morphological differences between genotypes within the species, but no architectural differences, either above-or below-ground, were attributable to micropropagation. Clonal 9-month-old plants were less variable than seedling populations. Both seed-origin plants and clonal-origin plants generally developed a number of deep sinker roots and showed equal ability to penetrate heavy clay soils. One clonal line, however, had a compact habit and a root architecture concentrated in the upper 20 cm of the soil profile. Under favourable nutrient and water conditions, the largest of the 9-month-old plants from both seed and tissue culture exceeded 2.5 m in height, produced more than 500 g of above-ground biomass and developed root lengths exceeding 8 km. Clonal Eucalyptus camaldulensis have advantages in plantation conditions with saturated, saline and heavy soil conditions.