Eucalyptus Viminalis Research Articles

Chemical composition and kraft pulping potential of 12 eucalypt species

Eucalypts are among the most important short-rotation hardwoods, planted worldwide for the pulp and paper industry. Even though the genus comprises over 700 species, only about a dozen species are used for pulping purposes, therefore, showing the potential for diversification. Six-year-old eucalypt trees from 12 species (Eucalyptus botryoides, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus grandis, Corymbia maculata, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus propinqua, Eucalyptus resinifera, Eucalyptus rudis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, and Eucalyptus viminalis) were analyzed for chemical composition, fiber morphological, pulping and handsheet paper properties to determine their kraft pulping suitability. The 12 species showed substantial differences regarding extractives (6.1–18.9%), lignin (21.6–30.8%) and holocellulose content (55.4–70.1%). The high inter-species variation in chemical composition produced pulps with different yields (between 38.9 and 49.8%) and degree of delignification (kappa number between 11.6 and 24.2). The combination of these results with the morphological and handsheet properties suggests that E. globulus, E. ovata, E. grandis,E. saligna and E. botryoides have the best overall characteristics for kraft pulping.

Extraction of biologically active compounds from medicinal plant raw material by extractants in subcritical state

Extraction of biologically active compounds (BACs) from the medicinal-plant raw material “leaves of eucalyptus viminalis” (Eucalypti viminalis Labill) was performed by traditional methods, by sub-critical water at temperatures of 120 ± 1, 160 ± 1, and 200 ± 1°C and pressure of 5.0 ± 0.1 MPa in a dynamic mode, and extraction by 10, 50, and 70% ethanol solution in water at a temperature of 200 ± 1°C and pressure of 5.0 ± 0.1 MPa was performed. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the extracts were studied using methods of gravimetry, UV and IR spectroscopy, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The dependence of the extraction efficiency of BACs of eucalyptus viminalis on the type of extraction type was established.

Antibacterial and quorum sensing regulatory activities of some traditional Eastern-European medicinal plants.

The objective of this study was to screen extracts of twenty Eastern European medicinal plants, using wild-type and reporter Chromobacterium violaceum bioassays, for novel components that target bacterial cells and their quorum sensing (QS) communication systems. Three types of activity and their combinations were revealed: (i) direct antimicrobial growth-inhibitory activity, (ii) non-specific and specific pro-QS activities, (iii) anti-QS activity. Among seven plant extracts showing direct growth-inhibitory activity, the strongest effect was shown by Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry) leaves. Many plants stimulated violacein production by wild-type C. violaceum ATCC 31532 in a non-specific manner, and only the herb Bidens tripartita (three-lobe beggarticks) contained compounds that mimic acyl-homoserine lactone and operated as a QS agonist. Anti-QS activity was found in eleven plants including Quercus robur (oak) cortex, Betula verrucosa (birch) buds and Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum) leaves. Subsequent statistical analysis showed differences between antimicrobial and anti-QS activities, whereas both activities were defined by phylogenetic position of medical resource plant. Finally, extract from Quercus robur cortex revealed at least two fractions, showing different anti-QS mechanisms. These data confirm that multicomponent anti-infectious mechanisms are used by plants, which may be useful for drug development.

An allometric model for estimating DBH of isolated and clustered Eucalyptus trees from measurements of crown projection area

Owing to its relevance to remotely-sensed imagery of landscapes, this paper investigates the ability to infer diameter at breast height (DBH) for five species of Australian native Eucalyptus from measurements of tree height and crown projection area. In this study regression models were developed for both single trees and clusters from 2 to 27 stems (maximum density 536 stems per ha) of Eucalyptus bridgesiana, Eucalyptus caliginosa, Eucalyptus blakelyi, Eucalyptus viminalis, and Eucalyptus melliodora. Crown projection area and tree height were strongly correlated for single trees, and the log-transformed crown projection area explained the most variance in DBH (R2=0.68, mean prediction error±16cm). Including tree height as a descriptor did not significantly alter the model performance and is a viable alternative to using crown projection area. The total crown projection area of tree clusters explained only 34% of the variance in the total (sum of) the DBH within the clusters. However average crown projection area per stem of entire tree clusters explained 67% of the variance in the average (per stem) DBH of the constituent trees with a mean prediction error±8cm. Both the single tree and tree cluster models were statistically similar and a combined model to predict average stem DBH yielded R2=0.71 with a mean prediction error (average DBH per stem) of±13cm within the range of 0.28–0.84m. A single model to infer DBH for both single trees and clusters comprising up to 27 stems offers a pathway for using remote sensing to infer DBH provided a means of determining the number of stems within cluster boundaries is included.

Effect of limited water availability on foliar plant secondary metabolites of two Eucalyptus species

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) have many ecological roles such as influencing decomposition, flammability and herbivory. PSM concentrations are genetically determined, but are also affected by environmental factors. Drought periods are predicted to become more frequent in many regions, and may have widespread impacts on PSM-mediated ecological interactions. We used two dominant tree species to investigate the impact of multiple levels of water availability on leaf PSM concentrations. Juvenile Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus viminalis plants were subjected to one of three glasshouse watering regimes (high [control], moderate or low water availability) and the effect on leaf PSMs was investigated between species, treatments, and within-plant foliage age classes. Moderate and low water availability decreased total phenolic concentrations of both species, and decreased the C:N of E. globulus leaves. Low water availability reduced the concentrations of two terpene compounds, but only in specific foliage age classes. Overall, the majority of terpenes were unaffected by decreased water availability, as were two formylated phloroglucinol compounds and condensed tannins. We conclude that water limitation had little impact on overall leaf PSM concentrations, and that juveniles of these two eucalypt species generally maintained PSM concentrations while plant growth declined, eluding to both direct impacts of water limitation and within-plant resource prioritization.

Evaluation on paper making potential of nine Eucalyptus species based on wood anatomical features

Eucalypt wood is known worldwide as a raw-material for pulping but only a few species are used by the industry. One of the important features for pulping is the wood structure and anatomy, including cell biometry and cell type proportion. This work makes a prospective study of nine eucalypt species aiming at a pulping use by an early assessment of wood anatomical features. Young 50-month-old trees grown in the same environment of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus maculata, Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus propinqua, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus viminalis were studied in relation to wood anatomy, cell biometry and proportion, and morphological fibre ratios. The nine species are structurally similar with typical eucalypt wood features, e.g. diffuse porosity with predominantly solitary vessels and simple perforations plates, and most anatomical differences between species related to rays and axial parenchyma. The wood is in general uniform and the radial variation of cellular dimensions is of small magnitude. The species showed a higher diversity regarding proportion of fibres (15–50%) and morphological characteristics e.g. slenderness ratio (39–48) and flexibility coefficient (0.37–0.65). The eucalypt species position themselves differently as regards the combination of morphological parameters, therefore allowing species targeting for specific paper properties. By considering these indicators, and the relative species growth, it seems promising to further study E. maculata, E. ovata and E. sideroxylon as potential new paper making eucalypt species, in parallel to the prized E. globulus and the already used E. camaldulensis.

Two new species of Fergusonina Malloch gall fly (Diptera: Fergusoninidae) from leaf bud galls on black sallee (Eucalyptus stellulata) and manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis)

AbstractTwo new species of Fergusonina flies are described from terminal leaf bud galls on Eucalyptus from south‐eastern Australia. Fergusonina herbaservus Nelson sp. nov. and Fergusonina manchesteri Purcell sp. nov. are the first species of fly from the genus Fergusonina to be described from Eucalyptus stellulata (black sallee) and E. viminalis (manna gum), respectively. The two species can be distinguished from all other described Fergusonina by host specificity, adult colour and setation, morphology of the genitalia, and morphology of the dorsal shield. These records represent the first record of Fergusonina galling for black sallee and a new Fergusonina gall type for manna gum.

Evaluation of the use potential of nine species of genus Eucalyptus for production of veneers and plywood panels

The objective of thisstudywas to evaluate the use potential of nine species of Eucalyptus for production of veneer sheets and multilaminated plywood panels. Veneers were cut using a pilot laminating lathe to a nominal thickness of 2.0 mm. Analysis included finding values of overall yield and yield according to three quality classes for the nine relevant species. Plywood panels were manufactured in a laboratory, consisting of five 2.0 mm veneer sheets which were bonded together with phenol-formaldehyde resin at a weight of 360 g/m² (double line). The panels were compressed using a specific pressure of 10 kgf/cm², a temperature of 140ºC and a pressing time of 10 minutes. Results indicated that, with the exception of E. phaeotricha and E. pellita, all other Eucalyptus species had above 50% average veneer yield after lamination. Results of glue line shear testing and static bending parallel and perpendicular demonstrated that species Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus robusta and Eucalyptus pellita have great potential within the parameters of this study for use in the production of veneer sheets and plywood panels intended for outdoor use.

Incidence, severity and causal fungal species of Mycosphaerella and Teratosphaeria diseases in Eucalyptus stands in Galicia (NW Spain)

The incidence and diversity of fungal species causing Mycosphaerella Diseases (MD) and Teratosphaeria Diseases (TD), and the disease severity, were studied in 190 stands of Eucalyptus globulus, 17 of Eucalyptus nitens, 3 of Eucalyptus viminalis and 1 of Eucalyptus obliqua in NW Spain. Results showed that MD and especially TD were present in practically all E. globulus plantations, in many of them with a high severity, suggesting they might be suffering important wood yield reductions, and extended with low severity to E. nitens, E. viminalis and E. obliqua stands. Eleven species were identified, namely Mycosphaerella aurantia, Mycosphaerella madeirae, Mycosphaerella marksii, Pseudocercospora pseudoeucalyptorum, Teratosphaeria africana, Teratosphaeria molleriana, Teratosphaeria nubilosa, Teratosphaeria parva, Teratosphaeria readeriellophora, Uwebraunia commune and Uwebraunia dekkeri.All species were found in juvenile foliage, and most also in adult leaves, in E. globulus stands. Less fungal diversity was recorded for E. nitens, E. obliqua and E. viminalis plantations. T. africana on E. globulus is a new record for Spain. M. aurantia on E. globulus, P. pseudoeucalyptorum and U. commune on E. nitens, M. madeirae and T. molleriana on E. obliqua, and T. nubilosa and T. parva on E. viminalis are first records in Europe.The most frequently isolated species was T. nubilosa, followed by T. parva and T. molleriana. These three fungi were responsible for the highest levels of disease severity.

First Record of a Native Heteropteran Preying on the Introduced Eucalyptus Pest,Thaumastocoris peregrinus(Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), in Brazil

The bronze bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellape, 2006 (Hemiptera: Thau mastocoridae), is a threat to commercial plan tations of Eucalyptus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Kenya, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe (Carpintero & Dellape 2006; Martinez & Bianchi 2010; Nadel et al. 2010; Noack et al. 2011). Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a typically gregarious sucking insect with nymphs and adults of different generations overlapping throughout the year (Noack & Rose 2007; Wilcken et al. 2010). Adults are about 3 mm long, with a flattened light brown body (Noack et al. 2011). Females lay about 60 black eggs usually in clusters on leaves, branches and at the base of host plant trunks (Jacobs & Neser 2005; Noack & Rose 2007). The high reproductive capacity of T. peregrinus facilitates rapid colonization and infestation. The pest initially causes silvering of the leaves, which subsequently shift to brown and red coloration, and this makes the trees look bronzed (Jacobs & Neser 2005). These canopy coloration changes al low identification of the presence of T. peregrinus before leaf drop and plant death occurs. The mechanism that induces plant death is not known, but the symptoms of feeding by nymphs and adults of T. peregrinus on eucalyptus leaves are similar to those of Cardiaspina psyllids (He miptera: Psyllidae) (Woodburn & Lewis 1973; Crawford & Wilkens 1996). The psyllids insert their stylets through the apertures of stomata to reach food supply causing cell degeneration of the mesophyll tissue that resembles the process of leaf senescence (Crawford & Wilkens 1996). The use of the systemic insecticide imidaclo prid injected into the trunk has been shown effec tive to control T. peregrinus in field tests (Noack et al. 2009), but chemical control in forest planta tions is questionable due to potentially adverse environmental impacts and high costs (Zanuncio et al. 1994). Thus, biological control, such as the introduction or enhancement of populations of predators, parasitoids and pathogens, is impor tant (Silva 2000). Pest control with natural en emies is growing in popularity; and heteropteran predators are important agents of biological con trol in integrated pest management programs (Molina-Rugama et al. 1997; Lemos et al. 2003). Here, we report the occurrence of the preda tory stinkbug, Supputius cincticeps Stal, 1860 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), nymphs feeding on T. peregrinus nymphs and adults in Lages, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Nymphs and eggs of S. cincticeps, and nymphs and adults of T. peregri nus were found on Eucalyptus viminalis Labill (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) trees at the Centro de Ciencias Agroveterinârias of the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (CAV-UDESC) (Fig. 1) in the urban perimeter of Lages, Santa Cata rina State, Brazil (27°47'S, 50°18'W) in January and February 2011. There were high densities of eggs, nymphs and adults of T. peregrinus on the eucalypts. The infested trees exhibited silver colored leaves (Fig. 1), but defoliation was not high. Damage by Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllen hal, 1833 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) weevils to E. viminalis leaves was also observed (Fig. 2), in dicating the coexistence of the bronze bug with other eucalyptus pests, causing multifaceted and potentially more severe damage. Adults of T. peregrinus were collected, stored in 70% alcohol and observed under stereomicro

Modelling changes in the distribution of the critical food resources of a specialist folivore in response to climate change

AbstractAim An important consideration when planning to conserve a species under climate change is to understand how the distribution of its food resources may also contract or shift under those same climatic conditions. Here, we use a case study to demonstrate a spatial conservation planning approach to inform decisions about where, under climate change, to protect and restore critical food and habitat resources for highly specialized species.Location Eastern Australia.Methods We developed fitted models for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and five of its key eucalypt food trees using the maximum entropy algorithm available in Maxent. We then projected these models using a range of IPCC A1FI climate change scenarios and identified areas with a higher probability of occurrence. We calculated where the koala and its food trees may co‐occur under future climate change.Results The koala and its food trees experienced significant range contractions as climate change progressed, sometimes to regions outside their current distributions. The inland speciesEucalyptus camaldulensisandEucalyptus coolabahcontracted from the more arid interior, which is outside the koala range, but persisted in the eastern regions of the koala’s range, whileEucalyptus viminalis,Eucalyptus populneaandEucalyptus tereticorniscontracted eastwards and southwards, with a fragmented distribution. The highest probabilities of overlap between koalas and their food trees were identified in fragmented coastal and southern regions of the koala’s current range.Main conclusions The application of a robust species distribution modelling decision support tool identified important changes, under climate change, in the distribution of a specialist species and its key food trees. These distributions did not change in complete synergy and therefore areas of overlap varied, depending on the food tree species modelled. This is of particular importance in a conservation planning context, when considering targeted protection and restoration of species‐specific habitat resources.

Response of selected South Australian native plant species to Phytophthora cinnamomi

Thirty‐seven South Australian native plant species from 11 families, including 15 threatened species in the state (of which six are listed as threatened under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) were assessed for response to infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Seedlings, 3–6 months old and grown in a greenhouse, were inoculated by placing infested pine wood plugs in the potting mix, maintained in moist conditions and assessed for mortality and disease symptoms for between 3 and 10 months. Thirty species were found to be susceptible, of which nine were highly susceptible, 15 moderately susceptible and six slightly susceptible. Three species were found to be resistant and results for four species were inconclusive. Six of the 15 threatened, rare or locally endangered species tested (Eucalyptus viminalis var. viminalis, Correa aemula, C. calycina, Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa, Pomaderris halmaturina ssp. halmaturina and Prostanthera eurybioides) were moderately susceptible, while two (Allocasuarina robusta and Pultenaea graveolens) were highly susceptible. Significant populations of at least five of the threatened species susceptible to the disease are located close to confirmed or suspected Phytophthora‐infested areas or growing in areas conducive for P. cinnamomi. An effective management strategy is therefore required to avoid extinction of such species due to infection by the phytophthora dieback pathogen.

Processing of Eucalyptus viminalis leaves in Australian streams - importance of aquatic hyphomycetes and zoosporic fungi

Processing of Eucalyptus viminalis leaves in Australian streams - importance of aquatic hyphomycetes and zoosporic fungi

Discovery, validation, and in silico functional characterization of EST-SSR markers in Eucalyptus globulus

Eucalyptus globulus is the most commonly planted hardwood species for pulpwood in temperate regions. We aimed to develop and characterize functional molecular markers for population genetic analyses and molecular breeding in this model tree species. Public expressed sequence tag (EST) databases were screened for nonredundant sequences to predict putative gene functions and to discover simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs), which were then validated in E. globulus and six other Eucalyptus species. A total of 4,924 nonredundant sequences were identified from 12,690 updated E. globulus ESTs. Approximately 19.3% (952) were unigenes and contained 1,140 EST-SSR markers, which were mainly trimeric (58.6%). A set of 979 primers for putative SSR markers was designed after bioinformatic analysis. The predicted functions of these ESTs containing SSR were classified according to their gene ontology (GO) categories (biological process, molecular function, and cellular component). GO categories were assigned to 226 ESTs (30.2%). Most ESTs containing SSR (78.7%) had significant matches (E ≤ 10−5) with the nonredundant protein database using BLASTX. From a set of 56 random primer pairs, 37 could be validated in eight E. globulus genotypes and were also tested for cross-transferability to other six Eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis). Seventeen polymorphic EST-SSR markers for E. globulus were evaluated in 60 unrelated trees, being representative of the species’ natural distribution. As a result, six highly informative markers were proposed for genetic diversity analyses, fingerprinting, and comparative population studies, between different species of E. globulus.

Oxalate nephropathy in a laboratory colony of common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) following the ingestion of Eucalyptus viminalis

Seven common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) from a laboratory colony of 17 died over a period of eight months. Death of six of these monkeys was attributed to kidney failure...

Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oils From Eleven Eucalyptus spp. and Two Hybrids: Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Their Major Components on Blattella germanica

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the fumigant activity of the essential oils from 11 species of the genus Eucalyptus and two of their hybrids on first instar of Blattella germanica L. The fumigant activity and repellence of the four major monoterpene components of these essential oils also were tested. Fumigant activity was evaluated by exposing nymphs to the vapors emitted by 50 microl of essential oil or monoterpene in a closed container. The lowest knockdown time 50% (KT50) values, expressed in minutes, were elicited by the essential oils of the Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus tereticornis (57.9) hybrid, Eucalyptus sideroxylon A. Cunn (62.0), E. grandis X Eucalyptus camaldulensis (63.8) hybrid, Eucalyptus viminalis Labill (64.1), Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden (64.5), and Eucalyptus grandis (Hill) ex Maiden (68.7). The KT50 values for the remaining essential oils ranged between 74.5 (E. saligna Smith) and 161.4 min (E. tereticornis Smith). The essential oil from the hybrid E. grandis X E. tereticornis was 3.7 times less toxic than dichlorvos (positive control). The KT50 values of monoterpenes were 38.8 for alpha-pinene, 55.3 for 1,8-cineole, 175.6 for p-cymene, and 178.3 for gamma-terpinene. Alpha-pinene was 2.5 times less toxic than dichlorvos. There was a strong positive correlation between the fumigant activity of essential oils and their corresponding 1,8-cineole and alpha-pinene concentration. Repellency was quantified using a video tracking system. Two concentrations of monoterpenes were studied (7 and 70 microg/cm2). All compounds produced a light repellent effect but only when applied at 70 microg/cm2. In all cases, the repellent effect was less than that produced by the broad-spectrum insect repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (positive control).

THE CURRENT STATUS OF DIFFERENT AGE, DIRECT-SEEDED REVEGETATION SITES IN AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN THE BURRUMBEET REGION, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Many vegetation restoration works have been undertaken in Australia but only a few of those projects have been assessed for effectiveness. Revisiting earlier restoration attempts and analysing data from them is fundamental to the development of evidence-based prescriptions for future restoration work. Therefore, this study's objectives were to (I) compare plant species composition of different age direct-seeded revegetated sites and (II) determine the effect, if any, of different ages of revegetated sites on the natural recruitment of native plants. The study investigated four fenced restoration sites, dating from 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Results showed that the density of plants surviving varied widely between plots of different ages. The highest density was found in the 2001 plot (2195·.7 stems ha−1), followed by 2000 (1877·8 stems ha−1), 2004 (197·6 stems ha−1) and 2005 (195·4 stems ha−1). An ANOVA showed that the overall amount of seed broadcast does not play a significant (p = 0·437) role in the establishment rate. Overall, Eucalyptus ovata was found to be dominant in the 2000 (794·4 ha−1) and 2001 (971 ha−1) sites. In contrast, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus viminalis densities were highest in the 2004 (41 ha−1) and 2005 (60·4 ha−1) sites, respectively. PERMANOVA showed highly significant differences in the present plant composition between plots (p < 0·0001), despite similar species mixes used in sowing. Recruitment was not found in any of the sites. The least weed cover and the highest litter cover were found in the 2001 plot. A similar trend was found in the 2000 plot. In contrast, high weed cover and low litter cover were found in the 2004 and 2005 plots. Since one of the major impediments to developing better restoration strategies is the inadequate documentation of past practices, studies such as these may shed some light on how the direct-seeded technique operates in a farm situation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Six new infraspecific taxa in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) for Victoria

Six new subspecies of Eucalyptus are described from Victoria, a roughbarked manna gum, E. viminalis subsp. siliceana, three long leaf boxs’, E. goniocalyx subsp. viridissima, E. goniocalyx subsp. laxa, and E. goniocalyx subsp. fallax, and two blue boxs’ E. baueriana subsp. thalassina, and E. baueriana subsp. deddickensis.

Communal Roosting Behavior and Winter Diet of the White-Tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) in An Agricultural Habitat on the Argentine Pampas

Although the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) is widely distributed throughout the Americas, winter communal roosting has been recorded only in the Nearctic portion of its range. As a result, data on the food habits of the White-tailed Kite in South America during the nonbreeding season are scarce and, when available, limited to pellets from solitary individuals. Here, we report the communal roosting behavior and the winter diet of White-tailed Kites in an agricultural habitat on the Argentine pampas based on information gathered over three consecutive years (2006–2008). From May to July of each year, we observed an average of 11 (±SD = 2.8) kites roosting in a grove of Eucalyptus viminalis. Prior to roosting, kites gathered in a tall, dead, and leafless Eucalyptus tree before flying to more densely foliated trees where they spent the night. The diet of kites during winter was composed almost entirely of small mammals, mainly Calomys sp. and Akodon azarae. Because agricultural intensification in the Argentine pampas is ongoing, further studies are needed to gain a complete knowledge of White-tailed Kites in this habitat and of the effects of land-use changes on their foraging and other behavior.

Provenance variation and genetic parameters of Eucalyptus viminalis in Argentina

Genetic parameters for growth, stem straightness, pilodyn penetration, relative bark thickness and survival were estimated in a base-population of five open-pollinated provenance/progeny trials of Eucalyptus viminalis. The trials, located in northern, central and southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, comprised 148 open-pollinated families from 13 Australian native provenances and eight local Argentinean seedlots. The Australian native provenances come from a limited range of the natural distribution. Overall survival, based on the latest assessment of each trial, was 62.4%. Single-site analyses showed that statistically significant provenances differences (p < 0.05) for at least one of the studied traits in three out of the five trials analyzed. The local land race performed inconsistently in this study. The average narrow-sense individual-tree heritability estimate \( \left( {{{\hat{h}}^2}} \right) \) was 0.27 for diameter and 0.17 for total height. Values of \( {\hat{h}^2} \) also increased with age. Pilodyn penetration, assessed at only one site, was more heritable \( \left( {{{\hat{h}}^2} = 0.32} \right) \) than the average of growth traits. Estimated individual-tree heritabilities were moderate to low for stem straightness (average of 0.20) and relative bark thickness (0.16). The estimated additive genetic correlations \( \left( {{{{r}}_{{A}}}} \right) \) between diameter and height were consistently high and positive (\( {{r}_{^A}} \)average of 0.90). High additive genetic correlations were observed between growth variables and pilodyn penetration (\( {{r}_{^A}} \)average of 0.58). Relative bark thickness showed a negative correlation with diameter \( \left( {{{{r}}_{^A}} = - 0.39} \right) \) and height \( \left( {{{{r}}_{^A}} = - 0.51} \right) \). The average estimated additive genetic correlation between sites was high for diameter (0.67). The implications of all these parameter estimates for genetic improvement of E. viminalis in Argentina are discussed.