Key traits influencing the resistance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis to wind damage in coastal areas of South China.

Abstract

China is one of the countries in the world most seriously affected by typhoons, which pose a great threat to the eucalyptus plantation industry. However, few studies have comprehensively accounted for the impact of key traits on the wind damage/resistance of eucalyptus. To identify the key factors affecting the wind resistance of eucalyptus, 20 eucalyptus genotypes were selected; a total of 18 traits, including the wind damage index, growth traits, and wood traits, were measured, and the wind resistance was determined via the tree-pulling test. Correlation, principal component, canonical correlation, and path analyses were performed to evaluate these traits. Correlation analysis revealed that the wind resistance of eucalyptus plants was related to the tree height, volume, and duration of stress wave propagation. Principal components and tree-pulling variables were further used for correlation and path analyses. Canonical correlation analysis and the PA-OV model showed that holocellulose and lignin contents and fiber width, as well as growth traits, were important factors affecting the stability of standing trees under typhoon conditions. The key traits influencing the wind resistance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, which may provide a reference for evaluating the wind resistance of Eucalyptus varieties for forest management, were identified. This study provides a knowledge base for forest management and planning in typhoon-prone coastal areas, and provides a theoretical basis for the breeding and genetically improving eucalyptus stocks based on wind resistance characteristics.