GENETIC ADAPTATION OF EUCALYPTUS TO CLIMATE STRESS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN THE BRASILIAN CERRADO: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/vx749p90Keywords:
Silvicuture; Environmental variability; Drought tolerance; Productive stability; Forest ecophysiology.Abstract
Climate change has imposed increasing challenges on forestry, particularly in seasonal tropical regions, where rising temperatures, irregular precipitation patterns, and the intensification of extreme climatic events compromise the growth, survival, and productivity of forest plantations. In this context, the genus Eucalyptus plays a strategic role in Brazilian forestry due to its high productive potential, broad ecological plasticity, and importance for the pulp, biomass, and solid wood production chains. However, in environments such as the Brazilian Cerrado, maintaining productivity increasingly depends on the capacity of genetic materials to respond to water stress and climatic variability. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze, through a systematic literature review, the genetic adaptation of Eucalyptus to climatic stress and its implications for productivity in the Brazilian Cerrado. Methodologically, the research was characterized as a systematic review with a qualitative approach and exploratory nature, conducted following the guidelines of the PRISMA protocol. The literature search was performed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using descriptors related to genetic improvement, drought tolerance, genotype × environment interaction, productivity, and climate change. Initially, 371 records were retrieved; after screening and eligibility stages, 30 articles composed the final corpus of the qualitative review. The interpretation of the selected studies was carried out using Bardin’s Content Analysis, allowing the organization of evidence into central analytical categories. The results indicated that the genetic adaptation of Eucalyptus is a decisive factor for maintaining forest productivity in environments subject to water deficit, as more adapted clones exhibit greater water-use efficiency, higher physiological stability, and better performance under limiting conditions. Furthermore, genotype × environment interaction, combined with the use of modern genetic selection tools, increases the accuracy of clonal recommendation and reduces productive and economic risks. It is concluded that genetic adaptation represents a strategic approach to increasing resilience, productive stability, and the sustainability of Eucalyptus forestry in the Cerrado under climate change scenarios.
Downloads
References
ANDRE, J.; OLIVEIRA, R.; SETTE, C.; ALFENAS, A.; ZAUZA, E.; DE S, L.; NOVAES, E. Wood volume of Eucalyptus clones established under different spacings in the Brazilian Cerrado. Forest science, v. 67, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxab016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxab016
ARUNKUMAR, A.; CHAUHAN, S. Non-destructive selection of genotypes with better wood properties from morphologically superior genotypes of Eucalyptus pellita. Current Science, Bengaluru, v. 118, n. 12, p. 1953–1958, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v118/i12/1953-1958 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v118/i12/1953-1958
BALOCCHI, C.; DURÁN, R.; NÚÑEZ, P.; ORDÓÑEZ, J.; RAMÍREZ, M.; ZAPATA-VALENZUELA, J. Genomic selection: an effective tool for operational Eucalyptus globulus clonal selection. Tree Genetics & Genomes, Berlin, v. 19, n. 3, art. 33, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-023-01609-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-023-01609-7
BILIK, A.; TRIANOSKI, R.; IWAKIRI, S.; ANGELO, H. Technological potential of Eucalyptus dunnii wood from different fertilization and genetic sources for the production of edge-glued panels. Maderas: Ciencia y Tecnología, Concepción, v. 27, p. e2727, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22320/s0718221x/2025.27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22320/s0718221x/2025.27
BLACKMAN, C. J.; HALLIWELL, B.; BRODRIBB, T. J. All together now: a mixed-planting experiment reveals adaptive drought tolerance in seedlings of 10 Eucalyptus species. Plant Physiology, Oxford, v. 197, n. 2, p. 1324–1338, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae63 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae632
CAMPOE, O. C.; ALVARES, C. A.; CARNEIRO, R. L.; BINKLEY, D.; RYAN, M. G.; HUBBARD, R. M.; STAHL, J. A.; MOREIRA, G. G.; MORAES, L. F.; STAPE, J. L.; LUIZ, L. F. Climate and genotype influences on carbon fluxes and partitioning in Eucalyptus plantations. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 475, p. 118445, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118445 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118445
DVORAK, W. S. Water use in plantations of eucalypts and pines: a discussion paper from a tree breeding perspective. International Forestry Review, Wallingford, v. 14, n. 1, p. 110–120, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1505/146554812799973118 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1505/146554812799973118
FERRARESSO, C. J.; ALMEIDA, M. R.; PAULA, R. C.; QUEIROZ, T. B.; HAKAMADA, R. E.; MAEDA, E.; HUBBARD, R. M. Quantifying turgor loss point and leaf water potential across contrasting Eucalyptus clones and sites within the TECHS research platform. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 475, p. 118454, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118454 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118454
FERREIRA, F. M.; CHAVES, S. F.; PEIXOTO, M. A. M.; ALVES, R. S.; COELHO, I. F.; RESENDE, M. D. V.; SANTOS, G. A.; BHERING, L. L. Multi-trait multi-environment models for selecting high-performance and stable Eucalyptus clones. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy, Maringá, v. 45, e61626, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4025/actasciagron.v45i1.61626 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4025/actasciagron.v45i1.61626
GÁNDARA, J.; NIÓN, M.; GONZÁLEZ-TÁLICE, J.; ROSS, S.; VILLAR, J.; FERNÁNDEZ, M. E. Similar but unique: physiological response to drought and growth of pure species and interspecific hybrid clones of Eucalyptus. Trees, v. 39, art. 36, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-025-02609-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-025-02609-x
HUBBARD, R. M.; CARNEIRO, R. L.; CAMPOE, O. C.; ALVARES, C. A.; FIGURA, M. A.; MOREIRA, G. G.; GONÇALVES, J. L. M. Contrasting water use of two Eucalyptus clones across a precipitation and temperature gradient in Brazil. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 475, p. 118407, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118407
KOMAKECH, C.; FOSSEY, A. Provenance variation, genetic parameters, and potential gains in Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. nobilis tested in two high-altitude cool temperate sites in the summer rainfall region of South Africa. Southern Forests: A Journal of Forest Science, Pretoria, v. 87, n. 1, p. 1–12, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2024.2402705 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2024.2402705
LIANG, Y.; BAI, T.; LIU, B.; YU, W.; TENG, W. Different antioxidant regulation mechanisms in response to aluminum-induced oxidative stress in Eucalyptus species. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Amsterdam, v. 241, p. 113748, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113748 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113748
LI, M.; SHI, J.; LUO, J.; GAN, S. Progresses of Eucalyptus genetics and breeding studies in China [我国桉树遗传育种研究进展]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition), Nanjing, v. 46, n. 6, p. 41–50, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202206036
LI, G.; LU, Z.; YANG, D.; HU, Y.; XU, J. Age trends of genetic parameters and genotype-by-environment interactions for growth traits of Eucalyptus urophylla clones in South China. PeerJ, San Diego, v. 12, e18218, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18218 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18218
LOIOLA, A.; PINHEIRO, E.; SOUZA, A.; SILVA, S.; SILVA, P.; HORA, A.; ARAÚJO, P. Influence of environmental factors on the survival and growth of Eucalyptus tereticornis provenances in the Brazilian semi-arid. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 593, p. 122925, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122925 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122925
LUIS, J. U.; AGUAYO, P.; CONEJERA, D.; RUBILAR, R.; BALOCCHI, C.; VALENZUELA, S. Transcriptomic response in foliar and root tissues of a drought-tolerant Eucalyptus globulus genotype under drought stress. Trees, Berlin, v. 36, n. 2, p. 567–582, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02241-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02241-5
MUELLER, D. S. P.; BRUNE, A.; ALVARES, C. A.; ALCARDE, A. B.; ALMEIDA, W. S.; TEIXEIRA, M. D. M.; GRATTAPAGLIA, D.; PEREIRA, R. D. Selecting for stable and productive families of Eucalyptus urophylla across a country-wide range of climates in Brazil. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Ottawa, v. 49, n. 7, p. 792–801, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0052
MUNHOZ, L. F.; SANTOS, O. P.; ROSA, R. A.; TEIXEIRA, B. V.; TAMBARUSSI, E. V. Genetic control of productivity and genotype-by-environment interaction for Eucalyptus dorrigoensis in southern Brazil. Cerne, Lavras, v. 27, n. 1, e-2594, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/01047760202127012594 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/01047760202127012594
OLIVEIRA, R. A.; GONÇALVES, R. C.; NERES, D. C.; MARTINS, A. P.; RIBEIRO, D. L.; SILVA, L.; VALVERDE, E. Z.; GUEDES, A. C.; FIORAVANTE, C. R.; APARECIDA, A.; ALFENAS, A. C.; NOVAES, E. Evaluation of genetic parameters and clonal selection of Eucalyptus in the Cerrado region. Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology, Viçosa, v. 20, n. 3, e32702035, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-70332020v20n3a35 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-70332020v20n3a35
PALUDETO, J. G.; MARCATTI, G. E.; ESTOPA, R. A.; KLAPŠTĚ, J.; BESPALHOK-FILHO, J. C.; RESENDE, R. T. Integrating enviromics to predict performance and guide clonal deployment in Eucalyptus spp. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 608, p. 123604, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123604 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123604
QUEIROZ, T. B.; CAMPOE, O. C.; MONTES, C. R.; RODRIGUES, R. R.; ALVARES, C. A.; CUARTAS, L. A.; GUERRINI, I. A. Temperature thresholds for Eucalyptus genotypes growth across tropical and subtropical ranges in South America. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 472, p. 118248, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118248 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118248
RUBILAR, R. A.; HUBBARD, R. M.; EMHART, V.; MARDONES, O.; QUEZADA, J.; MEDINA, A.; VALENZUELA, H.; ESPINOZA, J.; BURGOS, Y.; BOZO, D. Climate and water availability impacts on early growth and growth efficiency of Eucalyptus genotypes: the importance of G×E interactions. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 458, p. 117763, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117763 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117763
ROJAS, P.; IPINZA, R.; GUTIÉRREZ, B.; MOLINA, M.; ARNOLD, R. Breeding Eucalyptus globulus for lower rainfall sites in the Bio-Bío region of Chile. Australian Forestry, Canberra, v. 80, n. 2, p. 111–118, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2017.1319260 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2017.1319260
SILVA, M.; RUBILAR, R.; ESPINOZA, J.; YÁÑEZ, M.; EMHART, V.; QUEZADA, J. Gas-exchange response and survival of young Eucalyptus spp. commercial genotypes under water stress. Bosque, Concepción, v. 38, n. 1, p. 45–53, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002017000100009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002017000100009
SILVA, V. F.; BUZZETTI, S.; MONTANARI, R.; PANOSSO, A. R.; DIAS, M. S.; SILVA, J. A. Influence of the climate on productivity and the Eucalyptus drought response and a proposal for maximizing wood productivity as a function of soil attributes in Brazil. Ciência Florestal, Santa Maria, v. 32, n. 3, p. 1290–1306, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/1980509832690 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/1980509832690
STAPE, J. L.; ALVARES, C. A. Water table depth contributes to tropical Eucalyptus plantation yields in sandstone-derived landscapes. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 589, p. 122771, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122771 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122771
TADIYA, R.; BARTHWAL, S.; GINWAL, H. S.; SINGH, H. H.; SINGH, F. Integrative leaf transcriptomic and physiological insights into salt stress responses in Eucalyptus: a comparative analysis of two contrasting clones. Plant Gene, Amsterdam, v. 44, p. 100551, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100551 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100551
WHITTOCK, S. P.; GREAVES, B. L.; APIOLAZA, L. A. A cash flow model to compare coppice and genetically improved seedling options for Eucalyptus globulus pulpwood plantations. Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, v. 191, n. 1–3, p. 267–274, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2003.12.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2003.12.013
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Marcos Antonio Negreiros Dias, Paulo Sérgio Rocha Lima, Thais Bernardes de Oliveira, Vitor Dias Barros, Lucas dos Santos Barbosa Marinho, Raniere Alves Rodrigues, Henrique de Souza L Lima Júnior, Rosilene da Costa Porto De Carvalho, Ana Debora Ribeiro Cardoso Gusmão, Olavo da Costa Leite, Cristiano Bueno de Moraes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits the sharing of the work with proper acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal;
Authors are authorized to enter into separate, additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., posting in an institutional repository or publishing it as a book chapter), provided that authorship and initial publication in this journal are properly acknowledged, and that the work is adapted to the template of the respective repository;
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this may lead to productive exchanges and increase the impact and citation of the published work (see The Effect of Open Access);
Authors are responsible for correctly providing their personal information, including name, keywords, abstracts, and other relevant data, thereby defining how they wish to be cited. The journal’s editorial board is not responsible for any errors or inconsistencies in these records.
PRIVACY POLICY
The names and email addresses provided to this journal will be used exclusively for the purposes of this publication and will not be made available for any other purpose or to third parties.
Note: All content of the work is the sole responsibility of the author and the advisor.
