Within-stem variation in wood properties of triploid hybrids of Populus tomentosa at three clonal trials

Abstract

To obtain a better understanding of variability in wood properties along the stem in triploid hybrids of Populus tomentosa L., basic wood density (BWD) and fiber traits were measured at four sample heights for each tree sampled from three clonal trials. The BWD showed a similar trend at each site in that density was initially decreased then increased with increasing height position. For fiber traits, the fiber length (FL) decreased linearly with the height of the trunk, whereas fiber width and coarseness changed relatively slightly with increasing height position. In addition, the vertical wood properties distribution patterns were different from clones so that some clones showed more markedly change in height positions than others. The joint analysis indicated significant height position effect for BWD and fiber traits, in accordance with site and clonal effect. Significant site × height interaction was found on wood properties, whereas the significant clone × height interaction was only obtained at fiber width. Moreover, variation in the relationships between FL and BWD or other fiber traits showed no consistent pattern with increasing height position.

Keywords:

• fiber traits
• Populus tomentosa
• stems
• triploid hybrids
• wood density

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Fangdong Zhang and Yatong Xie from Tianjin University of Science and Technology for their assistance with fiber properties measurements.

Funding

Funding was provided by Planning Subject of ‘the 12th Five-Year Plan’ in National Science and Technology for the Rural Development in China (2012BAD01B0302).

Additional information

Funding

Funding:Funding was provided by Planning Subject of ‘the 12th Five-Year Plan’ in National Science and Technology for the Rural Development in China (2012BAD01B0302).