Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes
Water scarcity is a key constraint for commercial <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations, particularly given the increasing frequency of droughts driven by climate change. This study assessed annual transpiration (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE) across eight genotypes subjected to contrasting...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Juan C. Valverde Rafael A. Rubilar Alex Medina Matías Pincheira Verónica Emhart Yosselin Espinoza Daniel Bozo Otávio C. Campoe |
| author_facet | Juan C. Valverde Rafael A. Rubilar Alex Medina Matías Pincheira Verónica Emhart Yosselin Espinoza Daniel Bozo Otávio C. Campoe |
| author_sort | Juan C. Valverde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water scarcity is a key constraint for commercial <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations, particularly given the increasing frequency of droughts driven by climate change. This study assessed annual transpiration (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE) across eight genotypes subjected to contrasting irrigation regimes (WR). A split-plot design was implemented, comprising two irrigation levels: high (maintained above 75% of field capacity) and low (approximately 25% above the permanent wilting point). The genotypes included <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> (EgH, EgL), <i>E. nitens × globulus</i> (EngH, EngL), <i>E. nitens</i> (En), <i>E. camaldulensis × globulus</i> (Ecg), <i>E. badjensis</i> (Eb), and <i>E. smithii</i> (Es). Between stand ages of 7 and 9 years (2020–2023), we measured current annual increment (CAI), leaf area index (LAI), Tr, and WUE. Under high WR, CAI ranged from 8 to 36 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, Tr from 520 to 910 mm yr<sup>−1</sup>, and WUE from 0.7 to 2.9 kg m<sup>−3</sup>. Low irrigation reduced CAI by 5–25% and Tr by 10–35%, while WUE responses varied across genotypes, ranging from a 12% decrease to a 48% increase. Based on their functional responses, genotypes were grouped as follows: (i) stable performers (Es, Ecg, Eb) exhibited high WUE and consistent Tr under both WR; (ii) partially plastic genotypes (EgH, EngH) combined moderate reductions in Tr with improved WUE; and (iii) water-sensitive genotypes (EgL, EngL, En) showed substantial declines in Tr alongside variable WUE gains. These findings underscore the importance of selecting genotypes with adaptive water-use traits to improve the resilience and long-term sustainability of <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations in Mediterranean environments. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b3ea08a4c6764b0e8cc70ea2da65f8fe2025-07-25T13:34:36ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011414223210.3390/plants14142232Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation RegimesJuan C. Valverde0Rafael A. Rubilar1Alex Medina2Matías Pincheira3Verónica Emhart4Yosselin Espinoza5Daniel Bozo6Otávio C. Campoe7Cooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 500, Concepción 4030555, ChileCooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 500, Concepción 4030555, ChileForestal Mininco S.A., Avenida Alemania 751, Los Ángeles 4440000, ChileForestal Mininco S.A., Avenida Alemania 751, Los Ángeles 4440000, ChileForestal Mininco S.A., Avenida Alemania 751, Los Ángeles 4440000, ChileCooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 500, Concepción 4030555, ChileCooperativa de Productividad Forestal, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 500, Concepción 4030555, ChileForest Productivity Cooperative, Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras 37200, MG, BrazilWater scarcity is a key constraint for commercial <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations, particularly given the increasing frequency of droughts driven by climate change. This study assessed annual transpiration (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE) across eight genotypes subjected to contrasting irrigation regimes (WR). A split-plot design was implemented, comprising two irrigation levels: high (maintained above 75% of field capacity) and low (approximately 25% above the permanent wilting point). The genotypes included <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> (EgH, EgL), <i>E. nitens × globulus</i> (EngH, EngL), <i>E. nitens</i> (En), <i>E. camaldulensis × globulus</i> (Ecg), <i>E. badjensis</i> (Eb), and <i>E. smithii</i> (Es). Between stand ages of 7 and 9 years (2020–2023), we measured current annual increment (CAI), leaf area index (LAI), Tr, and WUE. Under high WR, CAI ranged from 8 to 36 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, Tr from 520 to 910 mm yr<sup>−1</sup>, and WUE from 0.7 to 2.9 kg m<sup>−3</sup>. Low irrigation reduced CAI by 5–25% and Tr by 10–35%, while WUE responses varied across genotypes, ranging from a 12% decrease to a 48% increase. Based on their functional responses, genotypes were grouped as follows: (i) stable performers (Es, Ecg, Eb) exhibited high WUE and consistent Tr under both WR; (ii) partially plastic genotypes (EgH, EngH) combined moderate reductions in Tr with improved WUE; and (iii) water-sensitive genotypes (EgL, EngL, En) showed substantial declines in Tr alongside variable WUE gains. These findings underscore the importance of selecting genotypes with adaptive water-use traits to improve the resilience and long-term sustainability of <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations in Mediterranean environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2232productivitywater balancesap flowtranspirationforest management |
| spellingShingle | Juan C. Valverde Rafael A. Rubilar Alex Medina Matías Pincheira Verónica Emhart Yosselin Espinoza Daniel Bozo Otávio C. Campoe Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes Plants productivity water balance sap flow transpiration forest management |
| title | Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes |
| title_full | Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes |
| title_fullStr | Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes |
| title_short | Transpiration and Water Use Efficiency of Mediterranean <i>Eucalyptus</i> Genotypes Under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes |
| title_sort | transpiration and water use efficiency of mediterranean i eucalyptus i genotypes under contrasting irrigation regimes |
| topic | productivity water balance sap flow transpiration forest management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/14/2232 |
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