Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance

Climate extremes threaten the resilience of Eucalyptus plantations, yet hybridization with drought-tolerant species may enhance stress tolerance. This study analyzed xylem anatomical and functional drought responses in commercial Eucalyptus grandis (GG) clones and hybrids: E. grandis × camaldulensis...

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Main Authors: Gandara, Jose, Nion, Matias, Ross, Silvia, González-Tálice, Jaime, Tabeira, Paolo, Fernandez, María Elena
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25016
https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081267
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author Gandara, Jose
Nion, Matias
Ross, Silvia
González-Tálice, Jaime
Tabeira, Paolo
Fernandez, María Elena
author_browse Fernandez, María Elena
Gandara, Jose
González-Tálice, Jaime
Nion, Matias
Ross, Silvia
Tabeira, Paolo
author_facet Gandara, Jose
Nion, Matias
Ross, Silvia
González-Tálice, Jaime
Tabeira, Paolo
Fernandez, María Elena
author_sort Gandara, Jose
collection INTA Digital
description Climate extremes threaten the resilience of Eucalyptus plantations, yet hybridization with drought-tolerant species may enhance stress tolerance. This study analyzed xylem anatomical and functional drought responses in commercial Eucalyptus grandis (GG) clones and hybrids: E. grandis × camaldulensis (GC), E. grandis × tereticornis (GT), and E. grandis × urophylla (GU1, GU2). We evaluated vessel traits (water transport), fibers (mechanical support), and wood density (D) in stems and branches. Theoretical stem hydraulic conductivity (kStheo), vessel lumen fraction (F), vessel composition (S), and associations with previous hydraulic and growth data were assessed. While general drought responses occurred, GC had the most distinct xylem profile. This may explain it having the highest performance in different irrigation conditions. Red gum hybrids (GC, GT) maintained kStheo under drought, with stable F and a narrower vessel size, especially in branches. Conversely, GG and GU2 reduced F and S; and stem kStheo declined for a similar F in these clones, indicating vascular reconfiguration aligning the stem with the branch xylem. Almost all clones increased D under drought in any organ, with the highest increase in red gum hybrids. These results reveal diverse anatomical adjustments to drought among clones, partially explaining their growth responses.
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institution Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina)
language Inglés
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spelling INTA250162026-01-21T16:08:36Z Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance Gandara, Jose Nion, Matias Ross, Silvia González-Tálice, Jaime Tabeira, Paolo Fernandez, María Elena Xilema Clon Hibrido Eucalyptus Resistencia a la Sequía Xylem Clones Hybrids Drought Resistance Climate extremes threaten the resilience of Eucalyptus plantations, yet hybridization with drought-tolerant species may enhance stress tolerance. This study analyzed xylem anatomical and functional drought responses in commercial Eucalyptus grandis (GG) clones and hybrids: E. grandis × camaldulensis (GC), E. grandis × tereticornis (GT), and E. grandis × urophylla (GU1, GU2). We evaluated vessel traits (water transport), fibers (mechanical support), and wood density (D) in stems and branches. Theoretical stem hydraulic conductivity (kStheo), vessel lumen fraction (F), vessel composition (S), and associations with previous hydraulic and growth data were assessed. While general drought responses occurred, GC had the most distinct xylem profile. This may explain it having the highest performance in different irrigation conditions. Red gum hybrids (GC, GT) maintained kStheo under drought, with stable F and a narrower vessel size, especially in branches. Conversely, GG and GU2 reduced F and S; and stem kStheo declined for a similar F in these clones, indicating vascular reconfiguration aligning the stem with the branch xylem. Almost all clones increased D under drought in any organ, with the highest increase in red gum hybrids. These results reveal diverse anatomical adjustments to drought among clones, partially explaining their growth responses. EEA Balcarce Fil: Gandara, Jose. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Biología Vegetal; Uruguay Fil: Gandara, Jose. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Unidad de Posgrados y Educación Permanente; Uruguay Fil: Nion, Matias. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Biología Vegetal; Uruguay Fil: Ross, Silvia. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Biología Vegetal; Uruguay Fil: González-Tálice, Jaime. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento Forestal; Uruguay Fil: Tabeira, Paolo. Universidad de La República. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Biología Vegetal; Uruguay Fil: Fernández, María Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina Fil: Fernández, María Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS); Argentina 2026-01-21T16:06:08Z 2026-01-21T16:06:08Z 2025-08 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25016 1999-4907 https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081267 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf MDPI Forests 16(8): 1267 (2025)
spellingShingle Xilema
Clon
Hibrido
Eucalyptus
Resistencia a la Sequía
Xylem
Clones
Hybrids
Drought Resistance
Gandara, Jose
Nion, Matias
Ross, Silvia
González-Tálice, Jaime
Tabeira, Paolo
Fernandez, María Elena
Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title_full Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title_fullStr Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title_full_unstemmed Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title_short Xylem Functional Anatomy of Pure-Species and Interspecific Hybrid Clones of Eucalyptus Differing in Drought Resistance
title_sort xylem functional anatomy of pure species and interspecific hybrid clones of eucalyptus differing in drought resistance
topic Xilema
Clon
Hibrido
Eucalyptus
Resistencia a la Sequía
Xylem
Clones
Hybrids
Drought Resistance
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/25016
https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081267
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