Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education), P.B. No. 1061, R.S. Puram, Post, Coimbatore–641 002, Tamil Nadu.
The largest operational clonal forestry programmes are with several species in the genus Eucalyptus and a number of clones are being deployed to increase the productivity of this species in India. There exists tremendous variation with reference to yield and tree form in clones of eucalypts. Studies on photosynthesis and related physiological parameters of various clones shall provide valuable information for establishing plantations at different geographic locations. Considerable variations were observed when 59 clones of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. were subjected to physiological studies at the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore. Five clones exhibited superior growth coupled with favourable physiological characteristics including high photosynthesis, carboxylation efficiency and water use efficiency.
Clonal forestry, eucalypts, physiological studies, water use efficiency
