Initiation of breeding programs for three species of Corymbia: Introduction and provenances study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish populations to start the breeding program of three species of Corymbia that are not widely planted in Brazil yet. To this end, basic density, bark content and growth of seedlots/provenances were evaluated three years after planting. The experiments consisted of 14 treatments for Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (CCV), 15 for C. maculata (CM), and five for C. henryi (CH). The species exhibited high survival, indicating adaptation to the Cwa climate while average coefficients of determination of seedlots exhibited intermediate values. The CCV from the Richmond Range (28º 55’ S) exhibited the highest productivity. The mean annual increment was low (22 to 26 m3ha-1), but the basic density (573 to 613 kg m-³) was high compared to the standard for eucalypts in Brazil. The bark content was close to 15% and varied between and within species.