Mortality of Eucalyptus pilularis progenies and provenances after frost

Abstract

We aimed to quantify frost tolerance and damage on Eucalyptus pilularis provenances and progenies in Curitibanos, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Mortality and severity of damage were assessed before frost at 7 months old and at 14 and 19 months old after frost events. Frost resulted in plant mortalityof 55.7%, with no difference among progenies and provenances. The tolerance of 5.3% may have occurred due to specific local conditions (escape). We concluded that the species does not have tolerance to frost in subtropical environment, with daily thermal range from - 5 °C to 28 °C.