Increased root initiation in cuttings of Eucalyptus nitens by delayed auxin application.

Root initiation in cuttings of Eucalyptus nitens(Deane & Maiden) Maiden. was stimulated by application of auxin dips in theform of 20 mg/l solution administered for 48 h. Thegreatest stimulation of rooting was obtained when auxin was applied to thecuttings at least four weeks after the cuttings were first collected and set ona mist-bed.     

Leaf and root growth dynamics in Eucalyptus globulus seedlings grown in drying soil

Summary Seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus growing in soil columns were subjected to a 24 day soil drying treatment. Water and solute potentials of both young expanding and fully expanded leaves declined under reduced soil water availability, while slightly higher turgor was sustained by the fully expanded leaves. Although leaf area of unwatered seedlings was smaller, the corresponding leaf dry weight was quite similar to that of well-watered seedlings. Soon after rewatering, leaf area of plants experiencing water shortage was comparable to that of well-watered plants. It seems that a difference in wall properties between juvenile and mature leaves allows for an effective pattern of water use by eucalypt plants growing in drying soil. Some stomatal opening is sustained and therefore, presumably, some carbon may be fixed, keeping the carbon balance of the whole plant positive, and allowing a continuous cell division despite the limited water supply. The highest root density of both well-watered and unwatered plants was found in the upper soil layers. However, root growth of unwatered seedlings was gradually increased in the deeper soil layers, where thicker root apices and higher soil water depletion rates per unit root length were recorded. As a consequence, root absorbing surface area was as large in unwatered plants as in well-watered plants.     

Diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency and toxicity of Eucalyptus globulus seedlings by foliar analysis

The relationship between shoot growth and foliar nitrogen (N) in E. globulus seedlings was studied in the glasshouse to determine standard values for N deficiency and toxicity diagnosis. Seedlings were grown for 9 weeks in yellow sand, at 10 rates of N, applied as ammonium sulphate, calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate. Shoot dry weight (DW) increased linearly with N rate for all forms of N in the deficiency range. Seedlings continued to respond to higher rates of ammonium and ammonium nitrate than to nitrate. Maximum shoot DW for nitrate fed plants and ammonium nitrate fed plants were 51% and 84% respectively of ammonium fed plants. Total N concentration in the youngest fully expanded leaf (YFEL) ranged from 1.0% to 3.3% in deficient and adequate plants. The critical N concentration for deficiency diagnosis (corresponding to 90% maximum yield) in the YFEL, determined from these growth response curves averaged over all N forms, was 2.6% N. For ammonium nitrate fed plants, total N concentration in the YFEL for the severely deficient, deficient, adequate, and toxic ranges were <1.4%, 1.4–2.5%, 2.6–3.5%, > 4.3%. High total N concentrations were associated with growth depression and toxicity symptoms, which differed with N form. For nitrate fed plants, a total N concentration above 3.3% in the YFEL was associated with severe growth depression, and leaf tip necrosis. The adequate concentration range for ammonium nitrate was similar to values found on a field trial with 7 month old E. globulus trees grown on an exforest site.     

Seasonal changes in foliar macronutrients (N,P, K,Ca and Mg) inEucalyptus saligna Sm. andE. wandoo Blakely growing in rehabilitated bauxite mine soils of the Darling Range,Western Australia

Summary Seasonal changes in the foliar concentration of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in sapling trees ofEucalyptus saligna Sm. andE. wandoo Blakely growing in rehabilitated bauxite mined areas in the Darling Range of Western Australia are described. Foliar N concentration decreased with age of the fully expanded leaf tissue. Leaf N concentrations were also high when rates of litter decomposition were expected to be high during the period of early spring. The greatest foliar N difference between trees growing in good soil conditions and those from poorer soil conditions also occurred during this period. Levels of P in leaves were highest in young developing leaves but once the leaves reached full size, no seasonal trend in P concentration was observed. Foliar K was lower during the winter and probably related to the period of maximum leaching by precipitation. High foliar K during summer, however, could be related to the role of K in lowering cellular water potential. Leaf Ca was highest during early sping. Low mobility of cellular Ca during the cool portion of the year was indicated. Foliar Mg showed a weak pattern of decreasing concentration with leaf age. The best season for sampling for these broadleafed evergreen species to provide information on plant nutrient status appears to be in spring.     

Finding a common ordination for several data sets by individual differences scaling

Individual differences scaling is a multidimensional scaling method for finding a common ordination for several data sets. An individual ordination for each data set can then be derived from the common ordination by adjusting the axis lengths so as to maximize the correlations between observed proximities and individual ordination distances. The importance of the various axes for each data set and the mutual similarities and goodness of fit for the individual data sets are described by weight plots. As an example, 46 soft-water lakes in eastern Finland are ordinated on two dimensions according to 3 chemical data sets (water in summer and autumn, sediment) and 4 biological sets (major phytoplankton groups, phytoplankton, surface sediment diatom and cladoceran assemblages). The method seems to be effective as a means of ordination for obtaining the common ordination for the data sets. The major taxonomic groups gave the ordination which differed most clearly from the ordinations of the other data sets. Phytoplankton was most poorly ordinated in all the analyses. The other data sets were fairly coherent. When only biological data sets were ordinated, the diatoms and cladocerans showed rather different patterns. It seems that the cladocerans are best correlated with water chemistry, both according to weights in the joint analysis, and according to correlation between the axes from the biological data sets and the chemical variables.Abbreviations CCA = Canonical correspondence analysis - IDS = Individual differences scaling - MDS = multidimensional scaling - PCA = Principal components analysis     

Sources of water used by riparian Eucalyptus camaldulensis overlying highly saline groundwater

Water sources of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. trees were investigated on a semiarid floodplain in south-eastern Australia. The trees investigated ranged in distance from 0.5 to 40 m from a stream, with electrical conductivity 0.8 dSm^–1, and grew over groundwater with electrical conductivity ranging from 30 to 50 dSm^–1. The sources of water being used by the trees were investigated using the naturally occurring stable isotopes of water and measurements of soil water potential. Xylem water potential and leaf conductance were also examined to identify the trees' response to using these sources of water. Trees at distances greater than about 15 m from the stream used no stream water. The trees used groundwater in summer and a combination of groundwater and rain-derived surface-soil water (0.05–0.15 m depth) in winter. In doing so they suffered water stress at electrical conductivities higher than approximately 40 dSm^–1 (equivalent to approximately –1.4 MPa). Trees adjacent to the stream used stream water directly in summer, but may have used stream water from the soil profile in winter, after the stream had risen and recharged the soil water. E. camaldulensis appeared to be partially opportunistic in the sources of water they used.     

Effect of zinc supply on growth of three species of Eucalyptus seedlings and wheat

Summary Effects of zinc supply on shoot and root dry weight, root length, zinc concentrations and carbonic anhydrase activity were measured in 52 day old seedlings ofEucalyptus maculata, E. marginata, E. patens and wheat grown in a zinc deficient soil in the glasshouse.Symptoms of zinc deficiency in the eucalyptus and wheat appeared within 20 to 35 days. Eucalypt seedlings had short internodes and small necrotic leaves, reduced dry weight of shoots and roots, root length and zinc concentrations in young leaves; the measurable level of leaf carbonic anhydrase activity decreased to zero. Similar responses also occurred in wheat.The level of zinc fertilizer required for normal growth of Eucalyptus seedlings is therefore likely to be similar to that used for wheat and other agricultural crops.     

Effects of root-zone solutes on Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus bicostata seedlings: Responses to Na+, Mg2+ and Cl-

Specific-ion effects in salt-treated eucalypts were examined with two species known to differ in salt tolerance viz. E. camaldulensis (more tolerant) and E. bicostata (less tolerant). Sand-cultured plants were irrigated with different nutrient solutions designed to impose either osmotic stress (concentrated macronutrients with balanced cations and anions) or specific ion stress from either NaCl or MgCl₂, or from nutrient solutions rich in particular ions viz. Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl^- (balancing counter ions were provided in all cases). Half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution served as control. All treatments were applied at osmotic pressures of approximately 0.52 MPa by appropriate concentrations of each solution. In general, salt-induced growth reductions were greater for E. camaldulensis than for E. bicostata, although E. camaldulensis showed strongest exclusion of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl^- from shoots. Application of NaCl and concentrated macronutrients resulted in similar growth reductions. E. bicostata seedlings exposed to high Cl^- concentrations in the presence of Mg²⁺ and concentrated cations suffered significantly more shoot and root reduction than those exposed to other salts. Treatment with solution rich in Cl^- resulted in extensive leaf damage, which suggested that Cl^- may have exerted a specific effect. No specific Na⁺ effect was observed for either species, even though shoot Na⁺ concentrations were considerably higher for E. bicostata than for E. camaldulensis. Root growth was considerably less for plants treated with Mg²⁺ salts and this effect was associated with low root Ca²⁺ concentrations.     

Maintenance of high pollen dispersal in Eucalyptus wandoo, a dominant tree of the fragmented agricultural region in Western Australia

Pollen dispersal was investigated in five remnant populations of Eucalyptus wandoo, a dominant insect-pollinated tree in the fragmented agricultural region of southern Western Australia. Paternity analysis using six microsatellite loci identified a pollen source for 45% of seedlings, and the remainder were assumed to have arisen from pollen sources outside the stands. Outcrossing was variable, ranging from 52 to 89%, and long distance pollen dispersal was observed in all populations with up to 65% of pollen sourced from outside the populations over distances of at least 1 km. Modelling dispersal functions for pollination events within the two larger populations showed little difference between the four two-parameter models tested and indicated a fat-tailed dispersal curve. Similarity of direct and indirect historical estimates of gene flow indicates maintenance of gene flow at levels experienced prior to fragmentation. The study revealed extensive long distance pollen dispersal in remnant patches of trees within a fragmented agricultural landscape in the southern temperate region and highlighted the role of remnant patches in maintaining genetic connectivity at the landscape scale.     

Patterns of Below- and Aboveground Biomass in Eucalyptus populnea Woodland Communities of Northeast Australia along a Rainfall Gradient

In vegetated terrestrial ecosystems, carbon in below- and aboveground biomass (BGB, AGB) often constitutes a significant component of total-ecosystem carbon stock. Because carbon in the BGB is difficult to measure, it is often estimated using BGB to AGB ratios. However, this ratio can change markedly along resource gradients, such as water availability, which can lead to substantial errors in BGB estimates. In this study, BGB and AGB sampling was carried out in Eucalyptus populnea-dominated woodland communities of northeast Australia to examine patterns of BGB to AGB ratio and vertical root distribution at three sites along a rainfall gradient (367, 602, and 1,101 mm). At each site, a vegetation inventory was undertaken on five transects (100 × 4 m), and trees representing the E. populnea vegetation structure were harvested and excavated to measure aboveground and coarse-root (diameter of at least 15 mm) biomass. Biomass of fine and small roots (diameter less than 15 mm) at each site was estimated from 40 cores sampled to 1 m depth. The BGB to AGB ratio of E. populnea-dominated woodland plant communities declined from 0.58 at the xeric end to 0.36 at the mesic end of the rainfall gradient. This was due to a marked decline in AGB with increased aridity whereas the BGB was relatively stable. The vertical distribution of fine roots in the top 1 m of soil varied along the rainfall gradient. The mesic sites had more fine-root biomass (FRB) in the upper soil profile and less at depth than the xeric site. Accordingly, at the xeric site, a much larger proportion of FRB was found at depth compared to the mesic sites. The vertical distribution patterns of small roots of the E. populnea woodland plant communities were consistently )-shaped, with the highest biomass occurring at 15–30-cm depth. The potential significance of such a rooting pattern for grass–tree and shrub–tree co-existence in these ecosystems is discussed. Overall, our results revealed marked changes in BGB to AGB ratio of E. populnea woodland communities along a rainfall gradient. Because E. populnea woodlands cover a large area (96 M ha), their contribution to continental-scale carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission can be substantial. Use of the rainfall-zone-specific ratios found in this study, in lieu of a single generic ratio for the entire region, will significantly improve estimates of BGB carbon stocks in these woodlands. In the absence of more specific data, our results will also be relevant in other regions with similar vegetation and rainfall gradients (that is, arid and semiarid woodland ecosystems).     

A new Escherichia coli gene, fdrA, identified by suppression analysis of dominant negative FtsH mutations

An Escherichia coli membrane protein, FtsH, has been implicated in several cellular processes, including integration of membrane proteins, translocation of secreted proteins, and degradation of some unstable proteins. However, how it takes part in such diverse cellular events is largely unknown. We previously isolated dominant negative ftsH mutations and proposed that FtsH functions in association with some other cellular factor(s). To test this proposal we isolated multicopy suppressors of dominant negative ftsH mutations. One of the multicopy suppressor clones contained an N-terminally truncated version of a new gene that was designated fdrA. The FdrA fragment suppressed both of the phenotypes — increased abnormal translocation of a normally cytoplasmic domain of a model membrane protein and retardation of protein export — caused by dominant negative FtsH proteins. The intact fdrA gene (11.9 min on the chromosome) directed the synthesis of a 60 kDa protein in vitro.     

Growth,nutrient acquisition and ectomycorrhizae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus regnans</Emphasis> F. Muell. seedlings in fertilized or diluted air-dried and undried forest soil

Seedlings of Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash) grow poorly in undried forest soil, where they develop purple coloration in the foliage, but their growth is markedly improved when forest soil has been air dried. Whether this growth promotion is purely due to improved nutrient status of the soil, as a result of air drying, was investigated. In several pot experiments, E. regnans seedlings were grown (i) in air-dried and undried forest soil with addition of different levels of complete fertiliser, (ii) in air-dried or undried soil diluted to different extents with sand, or (iii) in undried soil mixed with different amounts of air-dried soil. Seedling dry weight, P content and incidence of ectomycorrhizal root tips were determined.In all experiments, the dry weights of seedlings were 3–6 times greater in 100% air-dried soil than in 100% undried soil. Fertiliser application resulted in a significant increase in dry weight of seedlings in both air-dried and undried soil, but the dry weights in air-dried soil were always significantly greater than those in undried soil at the same level of fertiliser application. Even at the highest level of fertiliser application, the growth difference between seedlings in air-dried and undried soil remained. When air-dried soil was diluted with sand, there was a significant reduction in seedling dry weight only when soil was diluted to 20% or less (air-dried soil:total mix). Conversly, when air-dried soil was mixed with undried soil, there was a proportional decrease in seedling dry weight with increasing amounts of undried soil. In all experiments, the dominant ectomycorrhizal morphotypes in 100% air-dried soil were different from those in undried soil. Fertilisation and dilution of air-dried and undried soil did not result in a reduction in the overall incidence of ectomycorrhizal root tips, although the frequency of occurrence of different ectomycorrhizal morphotypes was affected.It is concluded that the growth difference between seedlings in air-dried and undried forest soils is not due solely to differences in the direct availability of nutrients in the soils, and different ectomycorrhizae may indirectly affect nutrient availability to the plant.     

Stand characteristics,understorey associates and environmental correlates ofEucalyptus tetrodonta F. Muell. forests on Gunn Point,northern Australia

An ordination study of 20Eucalyptus tetrodonta forest stands growing on deep earths in monsoonal Australia revealed two major gradients in understorey vegetation type. The first axis reflected both floristic and structural understorey variation, where litter and shrub cover were inversely related to grass cover. This axis is thought to reflect a complex fire-vegetation type interaction, where vegetation is primarily determined by the saturation of the soil profile in the wet season, as measured by the colour of the iron rich soils. On the second axis of the ordination, floristic composition but not vegetation structure, and stand height were found to vary with the intercorrelated measures of soil gravel and moisture supply.E. tetrodonta is able to regenerate in the absence of fire, but firing appears to stimulate regeneration. All stands contained some advance growth, which occurs in distinct clumps, probably reflecting these plants clonal origin. Sapling presence in the stands is variable and the recruitment of advance growth into this size class appears to be related to over-wood competition. The size class distribution of trees was found to be similar amongst the stands, therefore stand structure appeared to be independent of understorey type. In comparison to general models of temperate eucalypt regeneration processes the tropical eucalypts have evolved different regeneration strategies, possibly in response to the severe annual drought.Nomenclature: Chippendale (1971), unless otherwise indicated. Structural classification: Specht (1970).I acknowledge the help of Mr. Clyde Dunlop who identified plant specimens and provided stimulating discussion, and Dr. Peter Minchin for permission to use the computer package ECOPACK to prepare and handle the floristic data, and his invaluable assistance with the ordination analysis. Mr. Lee Belbin and CSIRO Division of Water and Land Resources kindly gave their permission to use the Numerical Taxonomy Package (NTP).     

Within-tree variation in cambial anatomy and xylem cell differentiation in Eucalyptus globulus

Summary Microscopic examination of the vascular cambium of Eucalyptus globulus, from four trees, at nine height levels, revealed a non-storied cambial structure with both ray and fusiform initials. Average fusiform initial length increased from 443 m at 70% of tree height from the base to a maximum of 484 m at 10% of tree height. At 2.5% of tree height average fusiform initial length sharply declined to 438 m. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.757, df = 7, P <0.05) existed between average fusiform initial length and average fibre length at each height, giving quantitative support to the notion that variation in fusiform initial length is an important mechanism influencing fibre length in hardwoods. However, 62% of the longitudinal variation in average fibre length was explained by the extent of elongation during differentiation, which increased linearly down the stem. At 70% of tree height, the average length of fibres was 1.84 times that of the fusiform initials, compared to 2.11 times at 2.5% of tree height. Concomitant with this longitudinal gradient of elongation was a gradient of increasing tangential area of the cambium occupied by cambial rays. This was accounted for by dimensional increases in the ray initial cells with decreasing height. Possible mechanisms that regulate the elongation of developing fibres and the proportion of cambial rays are discussed.     

Accumulation of nutrients by eucalyptus seedlings from acidic and calcareous soils of the cerrado region of Central Brazil

Summary The accumulation of nutrients by seedlings ofEucalyptus grandis andE. saligna from a latosol and two other fertile soils was compared. Both species performed well in a calcareous soil and an acidic but fertile gallery forest soil but not in the dystrophic latosol.E. grandis accumulated more nutrients from the calcareous soil thanE. saligna. In the other two soils these two species showed similar growth and nutrient accumulation. In spite of the high acidity, manganese toxicity did not seem to be a limiting factor in the latosol or the gallerty forest soil. Correlations among the shoot concentrations were not always the same as those among the total contents of the nutrients in the aerial biomass.     

Effect of legume understorey on decomposition and nutrient content of eucalypt forest litter

Summary In Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) forest of south-western Australia dense germination and regeneration of the native legumeAcacia Pulchella R. Br. can occur following moderate to high intensity fire. The effect of this legume understorey on rate of decomposition and change in nutrient content ofE. marginata litter was investigated using the mesh bag techniques and by examining four components of forest floor litter representing increasing stages of decomposition. E. marginata leaf litter confined in mesh bags lost 37% of its initial dry weight in the first 8 months on the forest floor and 44% of its initial dry weight after 20 months. During this period weight loss was similar for leaf litter located in forest without legume understorey and for leaf litter placed under dense stands ofA. pulchella. MixingA. pulchella litter withE. marginata litter had no significant effect on rate ofE. marginata litter breakdown. The presence of understorey vegetation had a marked effect on chemical composition of decomposingE. marginata leaves. After 8 and 20 months exposure on the forest floor, leaf litter in mesh bags placed underA. pulchella understorey had significantly (P<0.001) higher concentration and contained significantly (P<0.001) greater amounts of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg than leaf litter placed in areas without legume understorey. This effect was particularly marked for N and P. In forest without legume understorey the amounts of these two nutrients inE. marginata leaf litter changed little during the first 20 months of decomposition, but forE. marginata leaf litter in mesh bags underA. pulchella there were absolute gains of up to 68% in the amount of N and 109% in the amount of P during this period. This represents accumulation of N and P from sources outside the litter bags. The concentration of N, P, S, Ca and Mg were higher at each of the four stages of decomposition in eucalypt leaf litter collected from the forest floor beneathA. pulchella compared to eucalypt leaf litter collected in forest without understorey. Concentrations of N, P and S increased with stage of decomposition. Levels of these three nutrients in eucalypt litter from under the legume were 1.5 to 2.9 fold higher than in the same component of litter from forest without understorey. The effect of legume understorey on nutrient concentrations in the forest floor and on Cielement ratios in decomposing litter is discussed in relation to long term rates of litter breakdown and net mineralisation of litter nutrients.     

Moderate-density molecular maps of Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake and E. tereticornis Smith genomes based on RAPD markers

Moderate-density molecular maps were constructed for the genomes of Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake and E. tereticornis Smith using RAPD markers and an interspecific cross between the two species. One hundred and eighty-three primers were employed to generate 245 and 264 parent-specific markers in E. urophylla and E. tereticornis, respectively, as well as 49 parent-shared markers. The normally segregating markers, including 208 (84.9%) specific to maternal E. urophylla, 175 (66.3%) to paternal E. tereticornis, and 48 shared by both parents, were used for framework map construction for each parental species. For maternal E. urophylla, the linkage map consisted of 23 linkage groups, 160 framework markers, and 60 accessory markers, defining a total map distance of 1504.6 cM and an average interval of 11.0 ± 8.07 cM. For paternal E. tereticornis, the linkage map contained 23 linkage groups, 126 framework markers, and 92 accessory markers, defining a total map distance of 1035.7 cM and an average interval of 10.1 ± 7.23 cM. Genome length was estimated at 1585.7 and 1507.5 cM for E. urophylla and E. tereticornis, respectively, indicating map coverage of 94.9 and 68.7% of the corresponding genomes. Construction of such maps will be valuable for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) detection, marker-assisted selection (MAS), comparative mapping, and whole genome based fingerprint characterization in Eucalyptus breeding programs.     

Genotype by environment interaction for growth of Eucalyptus globulus in Australia

This study assessed the genotype by environment (G × E) interaction for diameter growth in 15 Eucalyptus globulus progeny trials in Australia. Single-site analyses revealed significant subrace and family-within-subrace variance in all trials. Across-site subrace () and family () correlations were estimated by linear mixed model analyses of pairs of trials. Using a factor analytic structure for subrace and family random terms in a multi-environment mixed model analysis, best linear unbiased predictions of subrace effects were obtained for each trial. These were then averaged for each of four states (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia) and across all sites. Statistically significant G × E interaction was detected, and weighted means across states for and were 0.73 and 0.76, respectively. Nevertheless, the three subraces from the Otway Ranges were both fast growing and relatively stable in their ranks over all sites. We evaluated the sensitivity of subraces to changing environmental conditions, on the basis of random coefficient models regressing subrace performance on selected trial climatic variables. The results suggested differential susceptibility of subraces to water, light and (to a less extent) temperature stresses during summer. Moreover, using multivariate techniques to visualize and interpret the across-site correlation structure for subrace effects, we could identify site clusters of reduced G × E interaction related to soil water availability and evaporative demand during summer. A revised site-type classification using these factors should allow a better capture of genetic gains from breeding and deployment.     

Characterization of an acetylated heteroxylan from Eucalyptus globulus Labill

A heteroxylan was isolated from Eucalyptus globulus wood by extraction of peracetic acid delignified holocellulose with dimethyl sulfoxide. Besides (1-->4)-linked beta-D-xylopyranosyl units of the backbone and short side chains of terminal (1-->2)-linked 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronosyl residues (MeGlcA) in a 1:10 molar ratio, this hemicellulose contained galactosyl and glucosyl units attached at O-2 of MeGlcA originating from rhamnoarabinogalactan and glucan backbones, respectively. About 30% of MeGlcA units were branched at O-2. The O-acetyl-(4-O-methylglucurono)xylan showed an acetylation degree of 0.61, as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and a weight-average molecular weight (M(w)) of about 36 kDa (P=1.05) as revealed from size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis. About half of the beta-D-xylopyranosyl units of the backbone were found as acetylated moieties at O-3 (34 mol%), O-2 (15 mol%) or O-2,3 (6 mol%). Practically, all beta-D-xylopyranosyl units linked at O-2 with MeGlcA residues were 3-O-acetylated (10 mol%).     

Model simulations of spatial distributions and daily totals of photosynthesis in Eucalyptus grandis canopies

Summary A simulation model for radiation absorption and photosynthesis was used to test the hypothesis that observed nonuniform distributions of nitrogen concentrations in young Eucalyptus grandis trees result in greater amounts of daily assimilation than in hypothetical trees with uniform N distributions. Simulations were performed for trees aged 6, 9, 12 and 16 months which had been grown in plantations under a factorial combination of two levels of fertilization and irrigation. Observed leaf N distribution patterns yielded daily assimilation rates which were only marginally greater (<5%) than for hypothetical trees with uniform distributions. Patterns of assimilation distribution in individual tree crowns closely resembled those for absorbed radiation, rather than for N. These conclusions were unaffected by three choices of alternative leaf area density distributions. The simulation model was also used to calculate hourly and daily rates of canopy assimilation to investigate the relative importance of radiation absorption and total canopy nitrogen on assimilation. Simulated hourly rates of carbon assimilation were often lightsaturated, whereas daily carbon gain was directly proportional to radiation absorbed by the tree crown and to total mass of N in the leaves. Leaf nitrogen concentrations determined photosynthetic capacity, whereas total leaf area determined the amount of radiation absorbed and thus the degree to which capacity was realized. Observed total leaf area and total crown N were closely correlated. The model predicted that nitrogen use efficiences (NUE, mol CO₂ mol^–1 N) were 60% higher for unfertilized than for fertilized trees at low levels of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Nitrogen use efficiency was dependent on fertilizer treatment and on the amount of absorbed PAR; NUE declined with increasing absorbed PAR, but decreased more rapidly for unfertilized than for fertilized trees. Annual primary productivity was linearly related to both radiation absorbed and to mass of N in the canopy.