Differentiation of seed germination and early seedling growth in ten provenances ofEucalyptus microtheca

Abstract

An investigation of seed germination and early seedling growth ofEucalyptus microtheca was based on seed collection from 10 widely separated provenances in Australia. Genetic variation of seed germination and early seedling growth was observed among a series of provenances whose natural habitats range from different climatic condition. In the ten provenances, both the model of seed relative germination percentage and the model of seed total germination percentage fitted Logistic regression [y=a/(1+exp(-ex+b))]. In comparison with provenances from four high temperature (mean annual maximum temperature >30.0 °C; mean annual minimum temperature >17.0 °C) areas, six low temperature (mean annual maximum temperature <30.0 °C; mean annual minimum temperature <17.0 °C) areas showed the fast germination rate and the high total germination percentage. For each provenance we have 45 seedlings equally divided into three watering levels (100%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity), and studies on relationship between early seedling growth and climatic factors of the natural habitat of provenance. In control treatment, height growth of the seedling has been associated with intrinsically the driest quarter precipitation in the seed collection areas of provenance. In all the treatments, length growth of the biggest leaf of the seedling was related to mean annual maximum temperature and mean annual minimum temperature in origin of provenance. In contrast, basal diameter growth of the seedling was related to mean annual minimum temperature of the seed collection areas in water stress treatment. From an ecological viewpoint, the fast germination rate and the high total germination percentage of the seed and rapid early growth of the seedling appear to be favourable adaptations to the climatic conditions prevailing in the natural habitat of provenance.