This study evaluated the wood properties of 5- and 7-year-old Acacia mangium trees planted in West Java, Indonesia. A plot (20 by 20 m) was selected in each stand. The stem diameter and stress-wave velocity (SWV) were measured for all trees (n = 24 and 18 for 5- and 7-y-old trees, respectively) in the plots. Core samples were taken from all trees in each plot using an increment borer to measure the basic density (BD) and compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS). The mean ± standard deviation stem diameter was 13.1 ± 3.0 and 21.9 ± 3.8 cm in 5- and 7-year-old trees, respectively. There was no significant correlation between stem diameter and SWV. The mean BD and CS for 5-year-old trees were 0.42 ± 0.02 g cm⁻³ and 30.0 ± 4.4 MPa, respectively, and for 7-year-old trees were 0.45 ± 0.02 g cm⁻³ and 32.8 ± 3.6 MPa, respectively. There was a positive correlation between BD and CS in 5- and 7-year-old trees (r = 0.790 and 0.583, respectively). The radial variation patterns for BD and CS were similar in 5- and 7-year-old trees: BD and CS gradually increased to about 6 cm from the pith, after which it was almost constant toward the bark. The results suggest that xylem maturation depends on the growth diameter in A. mangium.

This study aimed to identify fast-growing tree species suitable for pulpwood obtained from a secondary forest in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Chemical and pulp properties were determined for terap (Artocarpus elasticus Reinw. ex Blume), medang (Neolitsea latifolia (Blume) S. Moore), and balik angin (Alphitonia excelsa (Fenzel) Reissek ex Benth). The mean values of ethanol-toluene extract and total lignin contents in terap, medang, and balik angin were 1.5 and 29.7, 2.1 and 25.0, and 3.0 and 24.6%, respectively. A significant negative correlation (r = −0.573) was obtained between lignin content and pulp yield, suggesting that low lignin content in these woods leads to high kraft pulp yields. On the basis of these results, it can be considered that medang and balik angin woods are promising raw materials for bleached pulp, whereas terap wood is suitable for unbleached pulp.

Five 40-year-old Pinus taeda trees growing in Tochigi, Japan, were used to evaluate juvenile wood (JW) and mature wood (MW) properties and the bending properties of lumber. The boundary between JW and MW existed from the 14th to the 19th ring from pith in the sample trees. There were obvious differences in wood properties between the JW and MW: the MW had higher values in the latewood percentage and basic density and lower values in the microfibril angle. The microfibril angle and the air-dry density were closely related to the bending properties of the JW lumber and the MW lumber, respectively.

To clarify inheritance of static bending properties in relation to elastic and plastic regions, air-dry density, microfibril angle of the S₂ layer in latewood tracheid (MFA), and static bending properties (modulus of elasticity [MOE], modulus of rupture [MOR] and bending work) were examined for juvenile wood of 18 full-sib families in 20-year-old Cryptomeria japonica. Heritability of all traits ranged from 0.12 (bending work) to 0.51 (air-dry density). Based on the results from principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, the families were classified into four groups with different types of load-deflection curves, suggesting that both elastic properties and deflection in plastic region differed among families. Furthermore, families included in a group were produced from specific parents, suggesting that deflection in plastic region as well as elastic property is inheritable. It can be concluded that mating parents may affect elasticity and plasticity of offspring.

Sustainable pulpwood production from fast-growing tree plantations is needed for pulp and paper industries. To increase the pulpwood production efficiency, the anatomical characteristics and derived-wood properties of 75 trees from 15 half-sib families of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. planted in Thailand were investigated, and then the family was classified by suitability of wood as raw material for pulp and paper products using principal component analysis and clustering. The mean values of vessel diameter, vessel frequency, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter, and fibre wall thickness at 2 cm from the cambium were 128 µm, 16 no./mm², 11.1 µm, 7.1 µm, and 1.88 µm, respectively. In addition, the Runkel ratio, Luce’s shape factor, flexibility coefficient, slenderness ratio, solids factor, and wall coverage ratio (i.e., derived-wood properties) were 0.53, 0.42, 0.64, 85.3, 68 × 10³ µm³, and 0.34, respectively. Significant differences in fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter, and Runkel ratio were found among families. Although significant differences among families were not found for other anatomical characteristics and derived-wood properties, the p-values obtained by an analysis of variance test ranged from 0.050 to 0.088. Based on the results of a principal component analysis and cluster analysis, 15 families were classified into four clusters with different expected pulp and paper characteristics. The suitability of wood from E. camaldulensis half-sib families for pulp and paper can be evaluated by principal component analysis using anatomical characteristics and physical properties as variables. Based on the results, desirable pulp and paper quality may be obtained through the selection of families from this species.

Geographic variations in growth, stress-wave velocity of stem, dynamic Young’s modulus of stems and logs, annual ring width, latewood percentage and basic density were investigated for (Münchh.) Ledeb. naturally grown in Mongolia. A total of 250 trees with 20 to 30 cm in stem diameter at a height of 1.3 m above ground level were selected from each natural stand in five different provenances in Mongolia. In addition, five trees in each stand were cut for measuring dynamic Young’s modulus of stems and logs, annual ring width, latewood percentage and basic density. Mean values of stress-wave velocity of stems in each stand ranged from 2.92 to 3.41 km s, and the mean value of five stands was 3.23 km s. Mean values of dynamic Young’s modulus of logs in each stand ranged from 5.17 to 9.72 GPa. A significant correlation ( = 0.798,  < 0.01) was found between stress-wave velocity of stems and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs. Among the five stands, the highest and the lowest values of average annual ring number were 193 and 44, respectively. Mean values of basic density in five trees within each stand were examined and ranged from 0.52 to 0.56 g cm. Significant differences among five stands were found in tree height, stress-wave velocity of stem, dynamic Young’s modulus of stems and logs, annual ring width and latewood percentage, suggesting that trees naturally grown in Mongolia have geographic variations in mechanical properties of wood.Larix sibirica –1 –1 r p –3 L. sibirica