Genetic variation of xylem hydraulic properties shows that wood density is involved in adaptation to drought in Douglas-fir (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudotsuga menziesii</Emphasis> (Mirb.))

Introduction   

Relationships between wood density and hydraulic efficiency and safety (hydraulic specific conductivity and vulnerability to cavitation, respectively) could clarify the physiological process explaining the impact of density on fitness. We have used new, relatively high-throughput phenotyping methods to estimate genetic variation of wood hydraulic specific conductivity (k _s) and vulnerability to cavitation (VC) as an important step toward demonstrating the adaptive value of wood density.     

Genetic variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus taeda</Emphasis> wood properties predicted using non-destructive techniques

• Background   

Tree breeders have been reluctant to include wood traits in tree improvement programs owing to logistic difficulties and the cost associated with the assessing the traits.     

Provenance effect on the ring structure of teak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona grandis</Emphasis> L.f.) wood by X-ray microdensitometry

• Context  

Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is a tropical timber which is appreciated worldwide and has been planted into many regions of the tropics. It is essential to obtain information about provenance variation of basic wood properties in order to preserve the wood quality of end-products derived from future plantations. Figuring is one of the wood characteristics valued for panelling and furniture and it is an important parameter to evaluate the quality of teak wood. The ring structure affects within-ring and between-ring colour variation and, therefore, the figure of wood and the related aesthetical aspects.     

Genetic variation of natural durability traits in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus cladocalyx</Emphasis> (sugar gum)

• Introduction  

We present a study on genetic variation in natural durability traits of young-aged Eucalyptus cladocalyx, a species adapted to temperate, low rainfall regions. Our motivation was the production of naturally durable posts for applications such as vine trellises, a sector dominated by heavy metal preservative-treated wood in some of the world’s main wine-producing countries.     

Segregation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus tereticornis</Emphasis> Sm. clones for properties relevant to solid wood products

Introduction   

Wood quality is an important criterion in the selection of superior genotypes when breeding for solid wood.     

Genetic and environmental variation in wood properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia melanoxylon</Emphasis>

Context  

Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), is a fast-growing, high-quality, appearance-grade timber species native to eastern Australia. Some of its key wood properties are percentage heartwood, heartwood colour, basic density, wood stiffness and green moisture content. Variation in these properties affects log value, processing and marketing.     

Population genetic structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus phoenicea</Emphasis> (Cupressaceae) in the western Mediterranean Basin: gradient of diversity on a broad geographical scale

• Introduction, Material and Methods  

The genetic structure and diversity of ten natural populations of Juniperus phoenicea L. from the western part of the species range have been studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.     

Does past emergence of epicormic shoots control current composition of epicormic types?

• Context  

While past studies on epicormics in oak (Quercus sp.) have focused on the effect of thinning on epicormic shoots emergence, the consequences of this emergence on the epicormic ontogeny and future wood quality have rarely been asked.     

Diameter and death of whorl and interwhorl branches in Atlas cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cedrus atlantica</Emphasis> Manetti): a model accounting for acrotony

• Introduction   

Branch size and branch status (dead or alive) are important characteristics closely related to tree growth and wood quality. The aim of this study was to design models for the diameter and status of branches in Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica Manetti).     

Leaf morphological and genetic differentiation between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> L. and its closest relative,the drought-tolerant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus pedunculiflora</Emphasis> K. Koch

• Introduction  

The study of phenotypic and genetic differentiation between incipient species or species that have recently diverged provides insights into the evolutionary history of species complexes and may contribute to our understanding of how species will evolve in contrasting environmental conditions.     

Characterisation and categorisation of the diversity in viscoelastic vibrational properties between 98 wood types

Context   

Increased knowledge on diversity in wood properties would have implications both for fundamental research and for promoting a diversification of uses as material.     

Variation in fibre properties of cultivated Siberian larch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix sibirica</Emphasis> Ledeb.) in relation to radial and axial locations in the trunk

Introduction  

As the major resources of Siberian larch planted in Finland will be at a harvestable age in the near future, knowledge concerning wood and fibre properties of cultivated larches is needed. The properties affect both the character of pulp and paper, as well as properties important in the structural usage.     

Rapid assessment of wood traits for large-scale breeding selection in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea mariana</Emphasis> [Mill.] B.S.P.

Key message

Pilodyn and acoustic velocity measurements on standing trees, used for predicting density and stiffness, can be good genetic selection tools for black spruce. Genetic parameters and selection efficiency were conserved in two breeding zones with contrasted bioclimatic conditions.

Context

Given the recent progress made in the black spruce genetic improvement program, the integration of juvenile wood mechanical properties as selection criteria is increasingly relevant.

Aims

This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters of in situ wood density and modulus of elasticity (MoE) measurements and to verify the efficiency of various measuring methods used for large-scale selection of black spruce based on wood quality.

Methods

Height, diameter, wood density, and some indirect measures of density (penetration and drilling resistance) and MoE (acoustical velocity and Pilodyn) were estimated on 2400 24-year-old trees of 120 open-pollinated families in progeny trials located in the continuous boreal or mixed forest subzones.

Results

Heritability of growth, density, and indirect density measurements varied from low to moderate and was moderate for acoustical velocity in both vegetation subzones. Expected genetic gains for wood properties based on in situ methods were higher for MoE proxy estimation combining Pilodyn and acoustic velocity.

Conclusion

Acoustic velocity is a good predictor of MoE. It is virtually unaffected by the environment and can be used on a large scale in the same manner as the Pilodyn for density. Using a proxy estimation that combines both methods helps optimize genetic gain for MoE.

     

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.     

Characterization of mechanically perturbed young stems: can it be used for wood quality screening?

• Introduction   

Genetic testing is the slowest part of a breeding cycle. There is a growing interest in early wood quality screening methodologies. We hypothesized that subjecting 8-month-old radiata pine trees to mechanical perturbance induces reaction wood that permits isolating their likely corewood features.     

The decreasing radial wood stiffness pattern of some tropical trees growing in the primary forest is reversed and increases when they are grown in a plantation

Background   

This study examines the radial trend in wood stiffness of tropical rainforest trees. The objective was to determine if the type of growing environment (exposed plantation or dense primary forest) would have an effect on this radial trend.     

Genetic improvement of wood density and radial growth in Larix kaempferi: results from a diallel mating test

Context

Wood density is an important component of wood quality, and it is therefore important to assess whether it can be subject to genetic improvement.

Aim and methods

We assessed the potential for genetic improvement of wood density in Larix kaempferi by recording components of annual growth rings. A full diallel mating test based on six plus L. kaempferi trees was used. Trees were 29 years old. Wood density was recorded by soft X-ray densitometry, and genetic parameters and genetic gains were computed.

Results

Wood density of mature wood was highly heritable, and the largest heritability (0.78) was reached at age 25. Specific combining ability and reciprocal effects displayed very low variance. The age–age correlation of overall wood density was very high (>0.94). The genetic correlation between overall wood density and basal cross-sectional area was positive after age 10. Early selection at age 6 would account for 69 % of the genetic gain from direct selection at age 28 in terms of wood density.

Conclusion

Genetic improvement of wood density could be achieved by mass selection and a simultaneous selection for radial increment in L. kaempferi; early selection for wood density can be achieved in this species.     

What factors influence the stem taper of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis>: growth,environmental conditions,or genetics?

• Introduction   

Stem taper equations have been widely used for volume estimation to varied top diameter limits or for biomass calculations. However, their main drawback is that specific calibration is often necessary for each species or clone, and accounting for genetic and environmental effects is often a challenge.     

Relationships between biochemical attributes (non-structural carbohydrates and phenolics) and natural durability against fungi in dry teak wood (Tectona grandis L. f.)

• Introduction   

Non-structural carbohydrates and phenolic compounds are implicated in the natural durability of wood. In order to find the chemical traits of natural durability in teak wood, the radial distribution of phenolics compounds and non-structural carbohydrates were studied in trees ranked by contrasting natural durability class against Antrodia sp.     

A case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> fingerprinting for breeding

• Introduction  

Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population—a reference population of 125 individuals—with 16 microsatellites (SSR).