Wood and Pulping Properties Variation of Acacia crassicarpa A.Cunn. ex Benth. and Sampling Strategies for Accurate Phenotyping

Abstract

Research Highlights: This study provides a comprehensive set of wood and pulping properties of Acacia crassicarpa A.Cunn. ex Benth. to assess variation and efficient sampling strategies for whole-tree level phenotyping. Background and Objectives: A. crassicarpa is an important tree species in Southeast Asia, with limited knowledge about its wood properties. The objective of this study was to characterize important wood properties and pulping performance of improved germplasm of the species. Furthermore, we investigated within-tree patterns of variation and evaluated the efficiency of phenotyping strategies. Materials and Methods: Second-generation progeny trials were studied, where forty 50-month-old trees were selected for destructive sampling and assessed for wood density, kraft pulp yield, α-cellulose, carbohydrate composition, and lignin content and composition (S/G ratio). We estimated the phenotypic correlations among traits determined within-tree longitudinal variation and its importance for whole-tree level phenotyping. Results: The mean whole-tree disc basic density was 481 kg/m3, and the screened kraft pulp yield was 53.8%. The reliabilities of each sampling position to predict whole-tree properties varied with different traits. For basic density, pulp yield, and glucose content, the ground-level sampling could reliably predict the whole-tree property. With near infrared reflectance spectroscopy predictions as an indirect measurement method for disc basic density, we verified reduced reliability values for breast height sampling but sufficiently correlated to allow accurate ranking and efficient selection of genotypes in a breeding program context. Conclusions: We demonstrated the quality of A. crassicarpa as a wood source for the pulping industry. The wood and pulping traits have high levels of phenotypic variation, and standing tree sampling strategies can be performed for both ranking and high-accuracy phenotyping purposes.

Genomic Selection for Forest Tree Improvement: Methods, Achievements and Perspectives

“…ex Benth. wood correlated well enough with those of samples taken along the entire tree height, so that tree breeders would still effectively select the best-ranked genotypes [110].…”

Non-destructive modeling using a drilling resistance tool to predict wood basic density of standing trees in a eucalypts plantation in North Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Each log was then marked and divided into several sections based on the valuable log length. Disk samples of 2-to 3-cm thickness were cut at six points along the tree length: 1.3 m and 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of tree length (Figure 2) (Martins et al 2020). The samples were then put in a basket and immediately transported to the laboratory.…”

“…The average basic wood density at each of the six positions along the valuable tree length was then calculated. The determination of whole tree wood density followed the study by Martins et al (2020) in which whole tree basic density was calculated by averaging the lower until upper measures weighted by their areas. For that property, the calculation of whole tree basic density was based on frustum volume to average wood basic density within the trees measures weighted by their areas.…”

Development of Raw Materials and Technology for Pulping—A Brief Review

“…Since the emergence of papermaking, the pulp and paper industry has been an integral part of the everyday lives of people, and paper has greatly contributed to civilization and economic development. The new era has largely increased the global demand for pulp and paper [2]. Besides improving the quality of people's lives, paper has accelerated the spread of knowledge and promoted the development of science and technology.…”