Variation in Eucalyptus nitens Maiden in Response to Temperature and Seed Source

Abstract

E. nitens is a minor species of south-eastern Australia, having the growth potential for afforestation purposes. Variation was studied in seedlings raised under a wide range of temperature regimes with seed from six representative provenances. The results suggest that the species can be readily divided into three broad groupings, the two northern outlier occurrences of Ebor and Barrington, those in southern New South Wales, and the most southerly occurrences in Victoria. Leaf shape was found to be the best discriminatory character as it was independent of temperature. The provenances could also be distinguished on the basis of leaf area, but only when plants were raised under uniform temperature conditions.