Selection of Salt-Tolerant Clones ofEucalyptus camaldulensisDehn

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Twelve seed sources of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. were screened for salt tolerance under nursery conditions by measuring the survival (in percent) of seedlings that were watered for 18 days with a very high salt solution (ECw 43,9 dS/m). The salt-tolerant sources (in decreasing order of survival) were: Port Lincoln (Southern Australia), Silverton (Broken Hill, “var. subcinerea”), New South Wales, and Ashburton River (Western Australia). The most salt-sensitive sources were from Nathalia (Victoria) and Katherine (Northern Territory). There was much genetic variation within the seed source populations. Some individuals of salt-sensitive seed sources were salt tolerant, and may be useful material for selection of a salt-tolerant population by vegetative propagation. Leaf shedding and salt sensitivity were correlated. Most salt-tolerant seed sources preserved their leaves under increasing salt stress. Under the conditions of this trial, water salinity was not the only factor that limited height g...