Selection of species and provenances for low-rainfall areas: physiological responses of Eucalyptus cloeziana and Eucalyptus argophloia to seasonal conditions in subtropical Queensland

Abstract

Responses of stomatal conductance ( g s) and net photosynthesis ( A) to changes in soil water availability, photosynthetic photon flux density ( Q), air temperature ( T) and leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit ( D) were investigated in 4-year-old trees of a dry inland provenance of Eucalyptus argophloia Blakely, and two dry inland provenances (Coominglah and Hungry Hills) and a humid coastal provenance (Wolvi) of Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell. between April 2001 and April 2002 in southeast Queensland, Australia. There were minimal differences in A, g s and water relations variables among the coastal and inland provenances of E. cloeziana but large differences between E. argophloia and E. cloeziana. E. argophloia and to a lesser extent the Hungry Hills (inland) provenance of E. cloeziana maintained relatively higher pre-dawn water potential ( ψ pd) during the dry season suggesting possible access to water at depth. Simple phenomenological models of stomatal conductance as a function of Q, T and D explained 60% of variation in g s in E. cloeziana and more than 75% in E. argophloia, when seasonal effect was incorporated in the model. A Ball–Berry model for net photosynthesis explained between 70 and 80% of observed variation in A in both species. These results have implications in matching the dry and humid provenances of E. cloeziana and E. argophloia to suitable sites in subtropical environments.