The salt-waterlogging tolerance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis x E. globulus hybrids

Abstract

The salt–waterlogging tolerance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. globulus hybrids was compared with parental clones of E. camaldulensis, open-pollinated seedlings of E. globulus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis × E. camaldulensis seedlings in a glasshouse trial. Seven-month-old plants were waterlogged for 10 weeks with a saline solution of increasing concentration to 350 mmol NaCl/L.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis had higher tolerance to salt–waterlogging than E. globulus as assessed by survival and height growth rate. The performance of the hybrid families was intermediate between the 2 parental species as was the performance of progeny from crosses between salt tolerant E. camaldulensis parents. Within families some hybrid individuals performed as well as the E. camaldulensis parents. The most tolerant plants have been micropropagated for further experiments and field trials on saline agricultural land.