Abstract
Given an overall aim of improving Scots pine structural wood quality by selective tree breeding, we investigated the potential of non-destructive acoustic sensing tools to accurately predict wood stiffness (modulus of elasticity, MOE) and strength (modulus of rupture, MOR) of sawn boards. Non-destructive measurements of wood density (DEN), acoustic velocity (VEL) and MOE were carried out at different stages of wood processing chain (standing trees, felled logs and sawn boards), whilst destructively measured stiffness and strength served as benchmark traits. All acoustic based MOE and VEL estimates proved to be good proxies (rA > 0.65) for sawn-board stiffness while MOETREE, VELHIT and resistograph wood density (DENRES) measured on standing trees and MOELOG and VELFAK measured on felled logs well reflected board strength. Individual-tree narrow-sense heritability () for VEL, MOE and MOR were weak (0.05–0.26) but were substantially stronger for wood density (0.34–0.40). Moreover, additive genetic coefficients of variation for MOE and MOR were in the range from 5.4% to 9.1%, offering potential targets for exploitation by selective breeding. Consequently, selective breeding based on MOETREE, DENRES or stem straightness (STR) could improve several structural wood traits simultaneously.
Highlights
Wood stiffness and strength are important structural-timber traits that determine the suitability of wood for construction purposes
The aim of this study was to: (1) compare the benchmark stiffness obtained from destructive testing with that assessed non-destructively at different stages of the wood processing chain, namely on standing trees, felled logs and sawn boards; (2) estimate the genetic and phenotypic variation and heritability of all structural timber traits and calculate phenotypic and additive genetic correlations among them, as well as with wood density and growth traits; and (3) estimate the extent to which structural sawn timber quality traits may be improved by selective breeding
Acoustic velocity measured on standing trees (VELHIT ) was a little higher than acoustic velocity measured on boards (VELMTG ), whilst that measured on logs (VELFAK )
Summary
Wood stiffness and strength are important structural-timber traits that determine the suitability of wood for construction purposes. Stiffness and strength, expressed as modulus of elasticity (MOE). Many forest tree breeding programs, including that of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), have been prioritizing mainly stem volume improvement whilst wood quality traits such as stiffness and strength have been ignored. This approach will create a potential problem for species whose stem volume is negatively correlated with wood quality traits [2,3,4,5,6]. Some traits are not even expressed until the wood is processed and it is necessary to seek traits that can be measured non-destructively on standing trees in early stages of the rotation period and that can, at the same time, provide a reliable image of the final-products’ properties
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