Growth and water relations of seedlings of two subspecies of Eucalyptus globulus

Seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus Labill subsp. globulus grown in soil in pots in the greenhouse grew faster than seedlings of E. globulus subsp. bicostata, and responded better to added nutrients and water. However, water stress caused a greater reduction in the growth of shoots and roots, and in the root/shoot ratios of fertilized seedlings of subsp. globulus than in those of bicostata. More leaf surface wax was produced by seedlings grown in the presence of fertilizer and an adequate supply of water than by seedlings subjected to nutrient or water stress. Despite larger amounts of leaf surface wax, seedlings of subsp. bicostata had higher epidermal conductances than seedlings of subspecies globulus. However, epidermal conductances were reduced more by water stress and by fertilization in seedlings of subsp. bicostata than in subsp. globulus. Tissue osmotic potentials at full and zero turgor were reduced by water stress only in seedlings of subsp. bicostata and were increased by fertilizer only in seedlings of subsp. globulus. The results indicate that although seedlings of subsp. globulus have inherently higher growth rates, seedlings of subsp. bicostata are better adapted to drought.