Variation and Correlations Among Stem Growth and Wood Traits of Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. from the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. is an important tree for timber and energy in the western Amazon, with expanding national and international markets for its wood. There is relatively little information, however, about geographic variation in tree growth and wood properties, and correlations among these traits. The first provenance trial was established with farming communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Seven provenances, sampled from regions near the equator, were tested in three planting zones located in one watershed. Variation and correlations were investigated in stem growth at 30 and 42 months, wood density (in the lower and upper parts of the stem) and mean heat content of stem wood at 32 months. Stem height varied significantly among provenances and planting zones, but zones accounted for much more variation than provenances. Stem wood traits did not vary significantly among provenances. Wood density was greater in the lower than in the upper stem. Wood density in the upper stem and the difference in density between the lower and upper stem varied significantly among planting zones: density in the upper stem was lowest, and the difference in density between the lower and upper stem was largest in the zone where trees grew most rapidly. Phenotypic correlations between stem growth and wood density differed in sign among planting zones, suggesting that selecting fastgrowing trees could indirectly reduce wood density in environments where trees grow slowly, and increase the difference in wood density between the lower and upper stem in environments where trees grow very rapidly. Correlations between stem growth and wood heat content were stable across zones, and indicated that larger trees tended to have wood with higher heat content. Stem-wood heat content varied with provenance latitude/ longitude in the sample region, but none of the other traits varied clinally. Results indicate that there is potential to select faster-growing provenances at an early age, but this could affect wood density in certain environments.

Genetic variation in tree growth, stem form and mortality of Guazuma crinita in slower- and faster-growing plantations in the Peruvian Amazon

“…Variation in growth traits due to families within provenances was consistently greater and variation due to provenances was generally greater in the faster-growing plantations. Similar results were reported for this test at 12 months (ROCHON et al, 2007) and for two tests of C. spruceanum in the Peruvian Amazon (SOTELO MONTES et al, 2003;WEBER and SOTELO MONTES, 2005;SOTELO MONTES et al, 2006). However, this was not the case in a test of G. crinita provenances sampled from several different watersheds in the Peruvian Amazon and established in the Aguaytía watershed (WEBER and SOTELO MONTES, 2008).…”

“…Hook. f. ex K. Shum (SOTELO MONTES et al, 2003;WEBER and SOTELO MONTES, 2005;SOTELO MONTES et al, 2006); Prosopis flexuosa D.C. (CONY, 1996); Sterculia apetala (Jacq.) Karst (DVORAK et al, 1998); Vochysia guatemalensis Sm., J. D. (CORNELIUS and MESÉN, 1997)].…”

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

“…Adult trees (age unknown) in natural stands can attain heights of 35 m with stem diameters of 1.8 m at breast height (SEARS, 2003). The wood is diffuse-porous, with a basic density of 740 kg/m 3 for mature wood (age unknown) in natural stands (measured at 1.3 m above ground; KEENAN and TEJADA, 1984) and 563 kg/m 3 at 32 months of age in plantations (measured from 35 to 65 cm above ground, WEBER and SOTELO MONTES, 2005). It is generally assumed that mature wood is formed after 15-20 years in natural stands, but this has not been confirmed by studies.…”

“…The first provenance test of C. spruceanum established in Peru demonstrated that plantation yield could be increased by selecting fast-growing provenances (SOTELO MONTES et al, 2003;WEBER and SOTELO MONTES, 2005). However, phenotypic correlations between growth and wood density differed in sign among planting zones, suggesting that selection of fast-growing provenances may produce wood with lower density in some zones and higher density in other zones.…”

Propriedades físicas da madeira de Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. em função do diâmetro e da posição (base e topo) no fuste

“…Em plantios de C. spruceanum com idade de 16, 28 e 39 meses (SOTELO MONTES et al, 2006;2007) e aos 32 meses (WEBER; SOTELO MONTES, 2005) foi evidenciado, com base na avaliação das propriedades tecnológicas, o potencial da espécie em produzir madeira em idades jovens. Por sua vez, Gutiérrez e Ramos (2013) identificaram o potencial da espécie para estudos dendrocronológicos na Amazônia peruana, destacando que os anéis de crescimento são delimitados por zonas fibrosas mais estreitas radialmente.…”