XVI International Botanical Congess

We are assessing chlorophyll fluorescence parameters as rapid, non-destructive indicators of the response to salt of clones of Eucalyptus chosen for reafforestation of the salinity-affected Murray/Darling region of Australia. Detection of differences before gross damage is evident would have significant economic benefit. Salt was applied in defined conditions, and Fo and Fms, Fds and yield could be correlated with applied salt concentration. Further experiments focused on Fds and qN as convenient monitors in the long- and short-term. Fds is the simplest to acquire and process, but appropriate statistical analysis is necessary. A representative protocol comparing the responses of 3 salt-tolerant clones of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, as well as those of seedlings from the most tolerant and a less sensitive provenance, will be illustrated.