Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate Eucalyptus badjensis concerning the genetic variation for growth traits and the potential of the species in supporting a breeding programme. The field trial was a provenance/progeny test established in Campina da Alegria, Santa Catarina, Brazil (latitude 26°52′05.1″ S, longitude 51°48′47.5″ W, altitude 1,015 m) in a soil classified as Latossolic Alumino-Ferric Brown Nitosol. The experiment comprised 60 open-pollinated progenies from the provenances Glenbog and Badja State Forest, New South Wales, Australia. Ten replicates and plots with six plants in row were used. At the age of 17 years, 279 trees were assessed for diameter of the bole at breast height (DBH), total tree height (H) and volume of wood with bark (Vol). After submitting the data to statistical genetic analysis, the overall means for DBH, H and Vol were 45.17 cm, 33.30 m and 2.84 m3, and the estimates of additive coefficient of variation [(%)] were 12.59%, 5.91% and 26.51%, respectively. Heritability coefficients of additive effects () were also estimated and the following values were found: 0.443, 0.312 and 0.358. Thirty-nine trees from 25 different progenies were selected. The expected means of the provenances after improvement were 50.02 cm, 34.35 m and 3.47 m3 for DBH, H and Vol, respectively.
Highlights
Eucalypt plantations in the southern region of Brazil represent slightly over 11% of the total area cultivated with this genus in the country, nowadays estimated at 5.47 million hectares
The provenance origins of E. badjensis evaluated in the present study are Glenbog (P1) and Badja State Forest (P2), New South Wales, Australia
The geographical coordinates and climate from which the seeds were collected in Australia are comparable to some extent to those found in certain regions of southern Brazil, where eucalypts are commonly planted
Summary
Eucalypt plantations in the southern region of Brazil represent slightly over 11% of the total area cultivated with this genus in the country, nowadays estimated at 5.47 million hectares (based on information from IBÁ, 2014) In this region, the wood harvested has been used predominantly by the pulp and paper industry, followed by the bioenergy sector, which is mainly represented by firewood and woodchip as sources of heat. In subtropical climate zones, parts of the pine tree plantations have been periodically substituted by eucalypt, both by forest companies and independent wood producers, mainly as a response to economic factors. This should be considered an additional factor con-
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