Properties Of Juvenile Wood Research Articles

Wood stiffness and strength as selection traits for sawn timber in Acacia auriculiformis

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. is an important planting tree species, but little attention has been paid to its wood properties, such as shrinkage, stiffness, strength, and basic density, which are important for use in structural and appearance-grade timber applications. Here we report the genetic variation in static bending stiffness and strength of wood in a 5½-year-old clone trial in southern Vietnam and the genotypic correlations among these traits and tree diameter, wood shrinkage, and basic density. There was significant variation in stiffness and strength among 40 randomly selected clones. Clonal repeatability (H2) was high for stiffness and moderate for strength. There was no consistent pattern of difference between heartwood and sapwood for the estimates of H2 for stiffness and strength, whereas the estimates of H2 were lower for heartwood density than for sapwood density. Diameter showed a significant negative genotypic correlation with stiffness but a nonsignificant correlation with strength. Genotypic correlations between density and stiffness, and density and strength, were positive, but only the latter was significant. Stiffness and strength were not significantly correlated with wood shrinkage. There is potential to simultaneously improve tree growth, wood basic density, and the mechanical properties of juvenile wood of this species.

Generation and analysis of expressed sequence tags from six developing xylem libraries in Pinus radiata D. Don.

BackgroundWood is a major renewable natural resource for the timber, fibre and bioenergy industry. Pinus radiata D. Don is the most important commercial plantation tree species in Australia and several other countries; however, genomic resources for this species are very limited in public databases. Our primary objective was to sequence a large number of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from genes involved in wood formation in radiata pine.ResultsSix developing xylem cDNA libraries were constructed from earlywood and latewood tissues sampled at juvenile (7 yrs), transition (11 yrs) and mature (30 yrs) ages, respectively. These xylem tissues represent six typical development stages in a rotation period of radiata pine. A total of 6,389 high quality ESTs were collected from 5,952 cDNA clones. Assembly of 5,952 ESTs from 5' end sequences generated 3,304 unigenes including 952 contigs and 2,352 singletons. About 97.0% of the 5,952 ESTs and 96.1% of the unigenes have matches in the UniProt and TIGR databases. Of the 3,174 unigenes with matches, 42.9% were not assigned GO (Gene Ontology) terms and their functions are unknown or unclassified. More than half (52.1%) of the 5,952 ESTs have matches in the Pfam database and represent 772 known protein families. About 18.0% of the 5,952 ESTs matched cell wall related genes in the MAIZEWALL database, representing all 18 categories, 91 of all 174 families and possibly 557 genes. Fifteen cell wall-related genes are ranked in the 30 most abundant genes, including CesA, tubulin, AGP, SAMS, actin, laccase, CCoAMT, MetE, phytocyanin, pectate lyase, cellulase, SuSy, expansin, chitinase and UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. Based on the PlantTFDB database 41 of the 64 transcription factor families in the poplar genome were identified as being involved in radiata pine wood formation. Comparative analysis of GO term abundance revealed a distinct transcriptome in juvenile earlywood formation compared to other stages of wood development.ConclusionThe first large scale genomic resource in radiata pine was generated from six developing xylem cDNA libraries. Cell wall-related genes and transcription factors were identified. Juvenile earlywood has a distinct transcriptome, which is likely to contribute to the undesirable properties of juvenile wood in radiata pine. The publicly available resource of radiata pine will also be valuable for gene function studies and comparative genomics in forest trees.

Inheritance of density, microfibril angle, and modulus of elasticity in juvenile wood ofPinus radiataat two locations in Australia

A total of 1640 increment cores from 343 radiata pine ( Pinus radiata D. Don) families were sampled at two second-generation progeny trials, aged 6 and 7 years, for a detailed genetic study of juvenile wood quality traits. Density, microfibril angle (MFA), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were determined from pith to bark using SilviScan®technology. Heritability was greatest for area-weighted density at the two sites (0.63 and 0.77, respectively), and the lowest for growth traits (<0.23). Genotype by environment interaction was low for all three wood quality traits. A positive genetic correlation between density and MOE (0.43), and a highly negative, and therefore, favourable genetic correlation between MFA and MOE (–0.92) were observed, implying that improvement of multiple juvenile wood properties is possible. The genetic correlations between whole-core wood quality traits and individual-ring measurements suggest that improvement for juvenile wood properties across the entire profile of the corewood including the innermost rings can be achieved. However, density, MFA, and MOE had unfavourable genetic correlations with diameter growth suggesting that selection for increased density and MOE, and reduced MFA in the absence of selection for growth will result in a genetic loss for growth rate.

Genetic variation in wood shrinkage and its correlations with tree growth and wood density of Calycophyllum spruceanum at an early age in the Peruvian Amazon

Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex Shum. is an important timber tree species in the Peruvian Amazon Basin. Farmers and industry use wood from young trees of this species, so tree breeders should investigate genetic variation in juvenile wood properties to verify whether they can be improved. A previous study using the same provenance/progeny test showed that there was significant genetic variation in tree growth and wood density, that heritability was higher for density than for growth, and that density and growth were positively correlated at 39 months. This paper presents results for wood shrinkage at 39 months and their correlations with tree growth and wood density. Data were collected on thinned trees. Shrinkage values were relatively low when considering wood density of this species. There was significant genetic variation in wood shrinkage due to families within provenances and, in some cases, due to provenances. Heritability estimates were moderately high for linear and volumetric shrinkage (0.37–0.50) and lower for the tangential/radial shrinkage ratio (0.21–0.29) across zones. The genetic correlations that were considered significant ranged from 0.30 to 0.80. In general, genetic correlations suggest that selection of faster-growing trees with higher wood density would result in wood with greater shrinkage and a larger tangential/radial shrinkage ratio.

Some Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Juvenile Wood from Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) Plantations

Some Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Juvenile Wood from Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) Plantations

Genetic control of the time of transition from juvenile to mature wood inPinus radiataD. Don

The success of selective breeding for growth rate and subsequent reduction in rotation age in Pinus radiata has resulted in almost 40% of the log constituting juvenile wood in some cases. Juvenile wood properties in radiata pine are known to be limiting in factors such as low density, spiral grain, fibre length, and compression wood. Juvenile wood quality may be improved by breeding for increased stiffness of juvenile wood or an early transition age from juvenile to mature wood. The objective of this study was to investigate the age of transition from juvenile to mature wood and quantify genetic control in time of transition from juvenile to mature wood using 1866 radiata pine samples. Wood samples from two 16-year- old Australia-Wide Diallel (AWD) radiata pine tests and two 28-year-old open-pollinated (OP) progeny tests were submitted to X-ray densitometry procedures. An important finding of this study is the site difference in latewood density transition-age between tests at Flynn and Silver Creek in Gippsland, Victoria (mean = 7.5 y) and at Tantanoola in Green Triangle, South Australia (mean = 12.6 y). This finding suggests that site has a major effect on juvenile-mature transition in radiata pine. We detected moderate levels of genetic control in latewood density transition age that would allow for selective breeding for a shorter juvenile wood formation phase. These results suggest that there may be an opportunity to select for a reduction in transition age and therefore, increase the overall wood uniformity.

Genetic Variation and Correlations between Growth and Wood Density of Calycophyllum spruceanum at an Early Age in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Shum. is an important timber-tree species in the Peruvian Amazon Basin. As farmers and industry often use wood from young trees, it is important to investigate variation in juvenile wood properties in this species. A provenance/progeny test was established to evaluate genetic variation in growth and wood properties of young trees, the strength of their genetic control as well as their interrelationships both at the genetic and the phenotypic level in different planting zones. In this paper, results are presented for tree height and stem diameter (near ground level) at 16, 28 and 39 months; and stem diameter and basic density of the wood at breast height at 39 months. Significant variation due to provenances and especially due to families within provenances was found in growth and wood density. Phenotypic and genetic correlations indicated that larger trees tended to have denser wood. Wood density had higher heritability than height and diameter; and genetic control over height, diameter and density was generally highest in the planting zone where trees grew most rapidly.

Influence of selective breeding on the development of juvenile wood in Sitka spruce

The effect of selective breeding on juvenile wood formation in 24-year-old Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) was investigated. Properties associated with juvenile wood in fast-growing progenies were compared with those from slow-growing progenies and an unimproved control of similar growth rate (origin Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada). Large differences in properties associated with juvenile wood, namely high annual ring width, high microfibril angle, low density, and low latewood proportion, were observed in the first 12 or so rings from the pith between treatments. These properties were significantly inferior in the fast-growing progenies in comparison with the slow-growing treatments. From the 13th ring outwards, no significant differences were found between treatments in all attributes measured. Coefficients of determination (R2) between ring width and wood properties measured from rings 1 to 12 revealed only weak associations. Conversely, R2 values calculated for rings 13–19 revealed significant associations, indicating that density, latewood proportion, and tracheid length and diameter declined, while microfibril angle increased, with increasing ring width. The period of formation and the properties of juvenile wood appear to be largely independent of growth rate. High growth rate in the mature wood remains a concern in terms of wood quality.

Stem wood properties of Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera and Acer saccharum saplings after 3 years of treatments to elevated carbon dioxide and ozone

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of elevated carbon dioxide [CO2] and ozone [O3] and their interaction on wood chemistry and anatomy of five clones of 3‐year‐old trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Wood chemistry was studied also on paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedling‐origin saplings of the same age. Material for the study was collected from the Aspen Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment in Rhinelander, WI, USA, where the saplings had been exposed to four treatments: control (C; ambient CO2, ambient O3), elevated CO2 (560 ppm during daylight hours), elevated O3 (1.5 × ambient during daylight hours) and their combination (CO2+O3) for three growing seasons (1998–2000). Wood chemistry responses to the elevated CO2 and O3 treatments differed between species. Aspen was most responsive, while maple was the least responsive of the three tree species. Aspen genotype affected the responses of wood chemistry and, to some extent, wood structure to the treatments. The lignin concentration increased under elevated O3 in four clones of aspen and in birch. However, elevated CO2 ameliorated the effect. In two aspen clones, nitrogen in wood samples decreased under combined exposure to CO2 and O3. Soluble sugar concentration in one aspen clone and starch concentration in two clones were increased by elevated CO2. In aspen wood, α‐cellulose concentration changed under elevated CO2, decreasing under ambient O3 and slightly increasing under elevated O3. Hemicellulose concentration in birch was decreased by elevated CO2 and increased by elevated O3. In aspen, elevated O3 induced statistically significant reductions in distance from the pith to the bark and vessel lumen diameter, as well as increased wall thickness and wall percentage, and in one clone, decreased fibre lumen diameter. Our results show that juvenile wood properties of broadleaves, depending on species and genotype, were altered by atmospheric gas concentrations predicted for the year 2050 and that CO2 ameliorates some adverse effects of elevated O3 on wood chemistry.

Characterisation of juvenile wood in teak

Juvenile wood properties are studied in a ring-porous tropical hardwood – teak (Tectona grandis L. F), to assess the utilisation potential of short rotation timber. Compared to mature wood, it is characterised by wide rings, short fibres, small diameter, low vessel percentage, high cell wall, wide microfibrillar angle and relatively low or almost similar mechanical properties. While the average modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture in juvenile wood are 85% and 82% respectively of the mature wood value, the longitudinal compression strength is similar. With relatively small fibrillar angle of 15° and the scope for genetic selection of individual trees, teak juvenile wood has potential for desired dimensional stability. The segmented regression models and visual interpretation of radial patterns of variation in anatomical properties reveal that juvenility in plantation grown teak extends up to 15, 20–25 years depending on the property, growth rate and individual tree and plantation site. The fitted regression models, to explain the age-related variations in juvenile wood properties range from simple, linear to exponential, reciprocal and quadratic equations. Fibre length, microfibrillar angle, vessel diameter/percentage and ring width appear to be the best anatomical indicators of age demarcation between juvenile and mature wood, although maturation age often varies among the properties. The projected figures for proportion of juvenile wood in plantation grown teak at breast height are 80–100% and 25% at ages 20 and 60 years respectively.

Basic density, longitudinal shrinkage and tracheid length of juvenile wood ofPicea abies(L.) Karst

Variation in the growth ring width, basic density, longitudinal shrinkage and tracheid length was investigated in the juvenile wood of Norway spruce samples taken from different heights in the stem. Annual height increments were cut from the ten youngest shoots from trees of three different heights. By this method the properties of an individual growth ring could be analysed without taking samples from each ring. Sixteen tree tops of an average stem height of 8, 15 and 25 m were analysed. Basic density was low in the first shoot, highest in the second or third one and decreased gradually thereafter. Longitudinal shrinkage was highest close to the pith and decreased to about 0.2% in the outer rings. Tracheids were only ca. 1 mm long close to the pith and their length increased sharply towards the tenth shoot. The properties of juvenile wood varied with the height in the stem. Longitudinal shrinkage around the pith seemed to increase with increasing height and basic density was highest at 25 m stem height. ...