Physiology of Eucalyptus plantlets grown photoautotrophically in a scaled-up vessel

Abstract

Nodal cuttings of Eucalyptus camaldulensis L. plantlets were cultured photoautotrophically (sugar-free nutrient medium and with enriched CO2 and high photosynthetic photon flux) in a scaled-up vessel (volume 4.0 liters) under forced ventilation (SV-treatment). After 28 d of culture, physiological aspects of the plantlets were compared with plantlets grown photomixotrophically (20 g l−1 sucrose in the medium) in a Magenta vessel (volume 0.4 liters) under natural ventilation (control). In the SV-treatment net photosynthetic rates were enhanced, normal stomatal closing and opening were observed, and the epicuticular leaf-wax content was significantly higher than the control. The anatomical study showed well-organized palisade and spongy mesophyll layers of SV leaves. The SV-treatment also allowed in vitro acclimatization, and after transplanting ex vitro, the transpiration rate and the percent water loss was lower than those of the control and thus the SV plantlets acclimatized easily ex vitro.