Radial Variation of Wood Density and Fibre Length in Trembling Aspen

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Fifteen geneticall y distinct clones of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) from natural stands in central Albena, Canada, were sampled to examine radial variation of wood density and libriform fibre length. Six clones were chosen to graphically display the large amount of variation that occurs, among clones and among trees within clones for both traits. Variation in change of wood density across the radii among clones was substantial. The most obvious clonal patterns of change were 1) for trees to have a very high wood density near the pith, then wood density decreases and stabilises, and 2) wood density increases steadily across the radius. Fibre length patterns of change across the radius were all very similar. The results indicate that early assessments of wood density in aspen may not be an accurate reflection of what the long-term average wOod density may be for a particulary aspen clone.