Variation in wood properties among five full-sib families of Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Genetic- and environmental variation and correlation patterns were characterized for modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and related wood traits: latewood proportion, wood density, spiral grain, microfibril angle and lignin content in five full-sib families of Norway spruce. The families were evaluated on the basis of clearwood specimens from the juvenile -mature wood transition zone of 93 sampled trees at age 30 year from seed. Family-means varied significantly (p < 0.05) for all wood traits studied except lignin content. MOE varied between 7.9–14.1 GPa among trees and 9.4–11.0 GPa among families. MOR varied between 47–87 MPa among trees and 61–71 MPa among families. Families remained significantly different in an analysis of specific MOE (MOE/density) and MOR (MOR/density). Hence, solely relying on wood density as a wood quality trait in tree breeding would not fully yield the potential genetic gain for MOE and MOR. Correlations between wood structural traits and specific MOE and MOR are presented and discussed.     

Mechanical properties assessment of Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation wood with three acoustic-based nondestructive methods

The objectives of this study were to establish the method of evaluating wood mechanical properties by acoustic nondestructive testing at standing trees and at logs of a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantation, and to compare three acoustic nondestructive methods for evaluating the static bending modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compressive strength parallel-to-grain (σ_c) of plantation wood as well. Fifteen Chinese fir plantation trees at 36 years of age were selected. Each tree was cut into four logs, for which three values of dynamic modulus of elasticity, i.e., E _sw, of the north and south face based on stress waves to assume the measuring state of the standing tree, E _fr, longitudinal vibration, and E _us, ultrasonic wave, were measured in the green condition. After log measurements, small specimens were cut and air-dried to 12% moisture content (MC). Static bending tests were then performed to determine the bending MOE and MOR, and compressive tests parallel-to-grain were made to determine σ_c. The bending MOE of small clear specimens was about 7.1% and 15.4% less than E _sw and E _us, respectively, and 11.3% greater than E _fr. The differences between the bending MOE and dynamic MOE of logs as determined by the three acoustic methods were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Good correlation (R = 0.77, 0.57, and 0.45) between E _sw, E _fr, and E _us and static MOE, respectively, were obtained (P < 0.001). It can be concluded that longitudinal vibration may be the most precise and reliable technique to evaluate the mechanical properties of logs among these three acoustic nondestructive methods. Moreover, the results indicate that stress wave technology would be effective to evaluate wood mechanical properties both from logs and from the standing tree.     

Fresh-stem bending of silver fir and Norway spruce

The bending and growth characteristics of large fresh stems from four silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and three Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees were studied. Twenty logs taken from different stem heights were subjected to four-point bending tests. From the bending test records, we calculated stress-strain curves, which accounted for detailed log taper, shear deformation and self weight. From these curves we determined, among other parameters, the modulus of elasticity (MOE), the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the work absorbed in bending (W). No significant differences were found between species for the wood properties examined. Values of MOE, MOR and W generally decreased with stem height, with MOR in the range of 43 to 59 MPa and MOE ranging from 10.6 to 15.6 GPa. These MOE values are twice or more those reported for stems of young Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) trees. Based on the radial growth properties measured in discs from the logs, we calculated predicted values of MOE and MOR for the stem cross section. The predictions of MOE were precise, whereas those of MOR were approximate because of a complex combination of different failure mechanisms. Methods to test and calculate MOE, MOR and W for the stems of living trees are discussed with the aim of improving analyses of tree biomechanics and assessments of forest stability protection.     

Static bending properties of Finnish birch wood

The purpose of this study was to determine the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the modulus of rupture (MOR) in the radial bending test for small, clear specimens of Finnish birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh) wood originating from mature trees. The dependency of MOE and MOR on the specific gravity of birch wood was studied, and the relationship between MOE and MOR was modelled at the different heights and at the different distances from the pith of the tree. For B. pendula, the mean values for MOE and MOR were 14.5 GPa and 114 MPa, whereas B. pubescens had means of 13.2 GPa and 104 MPa, respectively. At the corresponding specific gravity, the bending stiffness and strength values did not differ between the two species. The results indicated a linear relationship between the MOE and MOR, irrespective of the birch species or the within-stem location. Both MOE and MOR increased clearly from the pith towards the surface of the tree and decreased slightly from the base to the top of the tree. It seems that if products with as high stiffness and bending strength as possible are wanted, sorting of raw materials into different grades according to their within-tree origin can be of value.     

Genetic variation and relationships to growth traits for microfibril angle,wood density and modulus of elasticity in a Picea abies clonal trial in southern Sweden

Abstract

Genetic variation in wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), wood stiffness (MOE), height, diameter and volume was investigated in a 26-year-old Norway spruce [(Picea abies (L.) Karst.] clonal trial in southern Sweden. Wood quality measurements were performed on 10 mm increment cores using SilviScan. For MFA, mean values of annual rings showed the highest value (30°) at ring 2 counting from the pith, followed by a steep decrease and a gradual stabilization around ring 12 at approximately 14°. MOE showed a monotonic increase from 5 GPa to 14 GPa when moving from pith to bark. High broad-sense heritability values were found for wood density (0.48), MFA (0.41) and MOE (0.50). All growth traits displayed heritability values of similar magnitudes as reported in earlier studies. The generally high age–age correlations between different sections of the wood cores suggested that early selection for wood quality traits would be successful. Owing to unfavorable genetic correlations between volume and MOE, the correlated response indicated that selection for volume only at age 10 would result in a 0.27% decrease in weighted MOE at age 26 for every 1% increase in volume.     

Growth and wood quality of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) planted in Akita prefecture (II). Juvenile/mature wood determination of aged trees

Variations of certain anatomical and mechanical indices within tree stems of aged sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) trees planted in Akita prefecture were studied. The determination of the juvenile/mature wood boundary was also discussed, and the effects of wood structure on mechanical properties were investigated. On the basis of radial and vertical variation of the anatomical and mechanical indices, modulus of elasticity (MOE)/ shear modulus (G) was chosen as the index for determining the juvenile/mature wood boundary. The increase rates of MOE/G at the points of 1%, 2%, and 3% were discussed. It was found that for aged trees, all three points were thought to be effective for dividing juvenile and mature wood. However, for younger trees, the point of 2% was recommended, which was mostly consistent with the result obtained by the increase rate of 1% for tracheid length (TL). Among mechanical properties, the MOE showed more significant juvenile/mature wood differences than did modulus of rupture (MOR) and . By correlation analysis, it was suggested that microfibril angle largely contributed to the indices of MOE and G, and specific gravity largely contributed to the indices of MOR and .Part of this report was presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Fukuoka, March 2003     

Index selection for growth and construction wood properties in Pinus elliottii open-pollinated families in southern China

The initial introduction of Pinus elliottii (PEE) to China occurred in the 1930s, and the planting of this conifer species has now attained close to 3 million ha in the subtropical zone of southern China. A large-scale genetic improvement program for PEE was implemented in southern China to produce fast-growing trees with high wood quality to address the severe shortage of timber production over the last two decades. In this paper, selection for stem volume, basic wood density (DEN) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) was based on the Smith–Hazel index, and a total of approximately 2 000 individual trees from 158 PEE open-pollinated families were selected at 22 years of age. The DEN and MOE for each tree were determined by non-destructive evaluation techniques using the Pilodyn and Hitman Director ST300® acoustic velocity device. The heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations for the traits that were measured were estimated using the residual maximum likelihood approach in the flexible mixed modelling program ASReml-R. The results showed that the heritability estimates for the wood properties were between 0.292 and 0.309, and the heritabilities of the growth traits ranged from 0.129 to 0.216. The genetic correlation between the DEN_P and acoustic velocity (V?) with MOE_P was 0.45 and 0.95, respectively. An indirect selection based on V was observed to be highly effective for determination of MOE. It indicated that V can be integrated into tree improvement programs as a useful index of MOE by ranking candidate families or individuals within the selection population. The genetic correlations between the growth traits and wood properties were not significant. By contrast, the phenotypic correlations between them were significantly positive, but the correlation coefficients were very low. The appropriate selection index (I₄), which placed 10 times as much weight on DEN and MOE as the equal emphsis method, was determined as the appropriate selection index.     

Bending strength and modulus of elasticity of Pinus sylvestris round timber from southern Norway

Abstract

To enable use of round Scots pine timber in structural frameworks it is necessary to estimate the mechanical properties of the material. This paper presents data on density, bending strength and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 533 debarked Scots pine logs with diameter from 75 mm to 250 mm sampled from 10 sites in southern Norway. The results show that round timber can have high values of bending strength and MOE, depending on the sites from which the trees have been collected. Some of the variation in bending properties can be explained by visual characteristics, but since a significant proportion of the residual variance is related to sites, criteria for visual strength grading have to be conservative to be valid across all sites. The potential for machine grading based on measuring MOE is better since this model is more accurate and the random effect of site is smaller.     

Variation in black spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea mariana</Emphasis> (Mill.) BSP) wood quality after thinning

• Introduction   

Commercial thinning (CT) could contribute to increase short-term tree growth and be beneficial in a cold climate, as in boreal regions. Thus, growth rate, ring density and flexural modulus of elasticity (MOE) of trees may change after CT. Moreover, mechanical wood properties vary with position in the tree, and there is a need to develop optimal log allocation strategies in order to allocate logs to their best use.     

The variation of microfibril angle in South African grown Pinus patula and its influence on the stiffness of structural lumber

Reduction in the rotation ages of softwood saw-log plantations in South Africa is causing increased proportions of low stiffness sawn lumber at final harvest. It has been shown for some species that the microfibril angle (MFA) of the S2 layer of tracheids is strongly related to the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of wood, even more so than wood density, especially in wood formed during juvenile growth. The objectives of this study were to describe the variation in MFA in young Pinus patula trees and to determine the relationship between MFA and the dynamic MOE of sawn P. patula lumber. Thirty 16- to 20-year-old trees from six compartments from the Mpumalanga escarpment were processed into discs and lumber. The MFA, density and ring width were measured at two height levels using Silviscan 3. The average annual ring MFA varied between 7° and 29°; the pattern of variation depended mainly on height level and the ring number from the pith. The MFA in P. patula followed the same within-tree variation trends as in New Zealand-grown Pinus radiata but the average MFA was lower in absolute terms and differences between height levels were less pronounced. The MFA and density exhibited highly significant Pearson correlations of 0.73 and 0.70, respectively, with board dynamic MOE. A multiple regression model, which included MFA, density and ring width, explained 71% of the variation in the dynamic MOE of boards. A sensitivity analysis on the model showed that MFA and density had approximately similar influences on predicting the dynamic MOE of Pinus patula boards.     

Genetic variation in wood stiffness and strength properties of hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi)

Genetic parameters for wood stiffness and strength properties were estimated in a 29-year-old hybrid larch stand (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × Larix kaempferi). The study included 19 full-sib larch families from Hokkaido, northern Japan. Implications of these genetic parameters in wood quality improvement are subsequently discussed. Traits included in the analyses were the dynamic modulus of elasticity of green logs (E _log), the modulus of elasticity (MOE), the modulus of rupture (MOR), compression strength parallel to the grain (CS) in small clear specimens, wood density (DEN), and diameter at breast height (DBH). DEN had the lowest coefficients of variation and MOE the highest. The narrow-sense heritability estimates of E _log, MOE, MOR, and CS were 0.61, 0.44, 0.60, and 0.43, respectively, and those of DEN and all mechanical properties increased from an inner to outer position within the stem. E _log and DEN had high positive phenotypic (0.52–0.83) and genetic (0.70–0.92) correlations with MOE, MOR, and CS. The mechanical properties of the inner position of the stem had rather high phenotypic and genetic correlations with those of the outer position and overall mean. The predicted gains in wood stiffness (E _log and MOE) were higher than those of the strength properties (MOR and CS). The predicted correlated responses in MOE, MOR, and CS when selecting for E _log and DEN were 72.6%–97.8% of a gain achievable from direct selection of these traits. DBH showed an insignificant correlation with all mechanical properties, although selection of this trait had a slightly negative effect on the mechanical properties.     

Stress-wave velocity of trees and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs of 4-year-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees selected for pulpwood production in Thailand

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. is extensively planted in Thailand to produce wood chips used as raw material for pulp and paper. To promote the utilization of the wood from plantation-grown E. camaldulensis for solid lumber, stress-wave velocity of trees and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs were investigated for 4-year-old trees of eight half-sib families selected for pulpwood production on the basis of the growth characteristics in the previous tree breeding program. For the eight families, the mean stem diameter at 1.3 m above ground level and mean tree height were 7.6 cm and 11.9 m, respectively. The mean stress-wave velocity of eight families was 3.45 km/s. Dynamic Young’s modulus of logs ranged from 7.88 to 17.64 GPa, and the mean value for the eight families was 11.72 GPa. Stress-wave velocity of trees was significantly correlated with dynamic Young’s modulus of logs, suggesting that dynamic Young’s modulus of wood can be evaluated nondestructively by stress-wave velocity of trees. Significant differences in stress-wave velocity and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs were obtained among families. Thus, to promote the utilization of E. camaldulensis wood for solid lumber production, selection of trees with high Young’s modulus should be applied to trees already selected for the growth characteristics in the previous tree breeding program.     

Control of tracheid cross-sectional dimensions in Norway spruce and Scots pine wood raw material

Abstract

Wood properties, including tracheid cross-sectional dimensions, show a large degree of variation. To improve the properties of products made from wood, different methods to control variation have been developed. This study aims to determine the theoretical efficiency of three control strategies: the fractionation of pulped tracheids into earlywood and latewood, the separation of juvenile and mature wood, and sorting of logs according to tree size. The efficiency of each method was studied by first constructing virtual trees from measured tracheid cross-sectional dimensions, then simulating the efficiency of above-mentioned methods. The tracheid dimension data include Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The simulations show that separation into earlywood and latewood classes has the highest theoretical efficiency and yields the lowest variances in raw material. Classification into juvenile and mature wood groups is the second most efficient method, and the sorting of logs according to the size class of the tree is the least efficient method. It was also concluded that the variation in cell-wall thickness and radial diameter mainly originates from differences between earlywood and latewood, whereas the variation in tangential diameter mainly originates from differences between mature and juvenile wood.     

Comparative study on three dynamic modulus of elasticity and static modulus of elasticity for Lodgepole pine lumber

The dynamic and static modulus of elasticity （MOE） between bluestained and non-bluestained lumber of Lodgepole pine were tested and analyzed by using three methods of Non-destructive testing （NDT）, Portable Ultrasonic Non-destructive Digital Indicating Testing （Pundit）, Metriguard and Fast Fourier Transform （FFT） and the normal bending method. Results showed that the dynamic and static MOE of bluestained wood were higher than those of non-bluestained wood. The significant differences in dynamic MOE and static MOE were found between bulestained and non-bluestained wood, of which, the difference in each of three dynamic MOE （Ep. the ultrasonic wave modulus of elasticity, Ems, the stress wave modulus of elasticity and El, the longitudinal wave modulus of elasticity） between bulestained and non-bluestained wood arrived at the 0.01 significance level, whereas that in the static MOE at the 0.05 significance level. The differences in MOE between bulestained and non-bluestained wood were induced by the variation between sapwood and heartwood and the different densities of bulestained and non-bluestained wood. The correlation between dynamic MOE and static MOE was statistically significant at the 0.01 significance level. Although the dynamic MOE values of Ep, Em, Er were significantly different, there exists a close relationship between them （arriving at the 0.01 correlation level）. Comparative analysis among the three techniques indicated that the accurateness of FFT was higher than that of Pundit and Metriguard. Effect of tree knots on MOE was also investigated. Result showed that the dynamic and static MOE gradually decreased with the increase of knot number, indicating that knot number had significant effect on MOE value.     

Using acoustic wave velocity to select fibre-managed plantation Eucalyptus nitens logs for laminated veneer lumber products

The aims and objectives of this study were to investigate the potential to predict laminated veneer lumber (LVL) stiffness from wood properties measured on trees and logs, and determine variation in log, wood and veneer properties as a function of tree height and age. Log selections were made from trees in three stands that were planned for harvesting at 14, 20 and 21 years of age. Rotary peeled veneer recovery from the logs was on average 65%. After drying, Metriguard testing showed over 50% of the veneer had an estimated dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE_dyn) above 12 GPa, with 20% above 14 GPa, and that veneer from the second log by tree height had higher MOE_dyn values. In visual assessment to the AS/NZS 2269.0:2012 Standard, no veneer could be utilised in a panels face or subface positions and the older-age stand provided almost four times the volume of usable veneer. Standing-tree acoustic wave velocity (AWV) explained a moderate amount of variance in log MOE_dyn and Pearson correlation coefficients between the (Metriguard) veneer MOE_dyn, log AWV, log MOE_dyn and disc basic density were significant, positive and strong, with log AWV explaining most of the observed variance in log stiffness. A moderately strong and positive linear regression existed between log AWV and veneer MOE_dyn, supporting the use of log AWV tools for the ranking of stiffness in fibre-grown plantation E. nitens logs. Mechanical strength testing of LVL studs extracted from panels manufactured from the trial’s veneer indicated they equalled, and for some tested parameters exceeded, the characteristic design strength values previously published by commercial LVL manufacturers for equivalent size pine products.     

Prediction of wood stiffness, strength, and shrinkage in juvenile wood of radiata pine

Development of optimal ways to predict juvenile wood stiffness, strength, and stability using wood properties that can be measured with relative ease and low cost is a priority for tree breeding and silviculture. Wood static modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), radial, tangential, and longitudinal shrinkage (RS, TS, LS), wood density (DEN), sound wave velocity (SWV), spiral grain (SLG), and microfibril angle (MFA) were measured on juvenile wood samples from lower stem sections in two radiata pine test plantations. Variation between inner (rings 1–2 from pith) and outer (rings 3–6 from pith) rings was generally larger than that among trees. MOE and MOR were lower (50%) in inner-rings than in outer-rings. RS and TS were higher (30–50%) for outer-rings than inner-rings, but LS decreased rapidly (>200%) from inner-rings to outer-rings. DEN had a higher correlation with MOR than with MOE, while MFA had a higher correlation with dry wood MOE than with MOR. SLG had higher significant correlation with MOE than with MOR. DEN and MOE had a weak, significant linear relationship with RS and TS, while MOE had a strong negative non-linear relationship with LS. Multiple regressions had a good potential as a method for predicting billet stiffness (R ² > 0.42), but had only a weak potential to predict wood strength and shrinkage (R ² < 0.22). For wood stiffness acoustic velocity measurements seemed to be the most practical, and for wood strength and stability acoustic velocity plus core density seemed to be the most practical measurements for predicting lower stem average in young trees.     

Ranking larch genotypes with the Rigidimeter: relationships between modulus of elasticity of standing trees and of sawn timber

? Direct assessment of modulus of elasticity (MOE) on standing trees is attractive for breeders to evaluate genotypes prior to selection: this can be done using the Rigidimeter, a bending-based measurement device.

? In this study, we tested its reliability to properly rank genotypes by relating trunk MOE with MOEs estimated with a vibrating analysis system (Bing) on different types of conditioned wood specimens from the same trees (boards and standardised 2×2×30 cm-clear-wood specimens). One hundred and ten trees from different genotypes of hybrid larch (Larix × eurolepis) were tested.

? Mean trunk MOE was 7 300 MPa with a similar value obtained for sawn boards. Clear-wood specimens MOE increased from pith to bark from less than 6 000 MPa to nearly 9 000 MPa. Moderate correlations (r = 0.48–0.61) were found at the individual tree level between trunk MOE and MOE of wood samples.

? Single specimen MOE was shown to be strongly related to a linear combination of trunk MOE and sample position.

? At the genotype mean level, trunk MOE was highly correlated with wood samples MOE (r = 0.80–0.91). Ranking of genotypes based on trunk MOE was mostly consistent with that based on standardised specimens.

? It was concluded that besides other operational advantages which are discussed, the Rigidimeter is a valuable tool for breeders to routinely evaluate and rank genotypes for stiffness prior to further selection.

     

Wood-inhabiting fungi in stems of Fraxinus excelsior in declining ash stands of northern Lithuania,with particular reference to Armillaria cepistipes

Abstract

Stem bases of 210 Fraxinus excelsior trees of three different health categories were sampled by the means of an increment borer in declining ash stands in northern Lithuania. From this number, 15 sound-looking, 132 declining and 63 dead trees from three discrete plots yielded 352 isolates, representing 75 fungal species. In addition, mycelial fans and rhizomorphs typical of Armillaria spp. from 205 and 20 trees, respectively, were sampled and subjected to fungal isolations. Species richness was similar in trees from each health category, but community structures differed, indicating that species composition of wood-inhabiting fungi in stems changes along with the changes in tree health condition. Armillaria cepistipes was the most common species (86 isolates from 210 wood samples, or 41.0%), isolated more frequently and consistently than any other potential tree pathogen. It also showed abundant occurrence on a majority of trees in the form of mycelial fans and rhizomorphs, from which 64 and 14 isolates of the fungus were obtained, respectively. The population structure of A. cepistipes revealed the presence of 53–93 genets per hectare, some of which extended up to 30–55?m.     

Radial and between-family variations of the microfibril angle and the relationships with bending properties in Picea jezoensis families

With emphasis on tree breeding for wood quality in Picea jezoensis, we aimed to evaluate radial and between-family variations in the microfibril angle (MFA) of the S₂ layer in the latewood tracheids in 10 open-pollinated families of 43-year-old P. jezoensis trees. In addition, the relationships between MFA/wood density with the modulus of elasticity (MOE) or modulus of rupture (MOR) were investigated. Significant differences in MFA between families were found from the pith toward the bark. MFA showed higher values around the pith area, although some families showed relatively lower values than others around this area. In addition, due to a larger coefficient of variations of MFA near the pith, the potential for juvenile wood MFA improvement may be greater compared with mature wood. MOE was correlated with MFA in juvenile wood and with wood density in mature wood, whereas MOR was mainly correlated with wood density at radial positions in both woods. Therefore, to improve the MOE and MOR of P. jezoensis wood, both MFA and wood density would be factors to consider in both juvenile and mature woods. On the other hand, there are indications that, only wood density would be an important criterion for improving mature wood properties.     

Influence of initial planting spacing and genotype on microfibril angle,wood density,fibre properties and modulus of elasticity in Pinus radiata D. Don corewood

Pinus radiata D. Don trees from six clones, grown at initial spacings of 2500 stems ha⁻¹ and 833 stems ha⁻¹ were destructively harvested. For these trees wood properties were measured on radial slices sampled at a height of 1.4 m above the ground. Relative to wide spacing, close initial stand spacing significantly reduced microfibril angle (MFA) and ring width and significantly increased dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE), fibre length, latewood percentage and cell wall thickness. Density and fibre width were not significantly different between spacing treatments. Examination of the influence of genetic population on wood properties indicated that genotype significantly influenced MFA, MOE and ring width. The key wood properties MFA, MOE and fibre length were regressed against tree diameter, height and stem slenderness. All three wood properties were most strongly correlated with stem slenderness. Multiple regression models developed for MFA, MOE and ring width accounted for respectively 62%, 81% and 58% of the variation in these variables. The following changes occurred in sampled properties with increasing ring number: MFA and ring width declined markedly; MOE and fibre length increased markedly; latewood percentage and cell wall thickness increased slightly; and density and fibre width did not show any radial trend.