Performance of Eucalyptus tereticornis provenances in subtropical climate

Abstract

Eucalyptus tereticornis has a wide natural geographic distribution from Papua New Guinea to South Australia (6º-38º S), therefore, it is expected the existence of important differences among provenances. Although differences in performance among provenances have been reported in several countries, the existing information is insufficient to allow the choice of the most appropriate provenance as a source of seeds for commercial plantations for humid subtropical climates. In order to evaluate the performance of 20 provenances of E. tereticornis in Uruguay and to generate information that contributes to the identification of the best provenances for humid subtropical climates, survival, individual tree volume, stem straightness and forking were assessed at 9-years-old in 4 sites in the center, north and northeast of Uruguay. Significant differences among provenances for all traits and significant provenance by site interaction for survival, individual tree volume and forking were found. No provenance was best in all sites. The Buckenbowra provenance had simultaneously high volume and survival. The absence of a clear regionalization, coupled with a significant provenance-by site interaction, suggests that local evaluation of different provenances is essential to identify appropriate seed sources, both for tree breeding and for use in commercial plantations.