Kraft pulp fibre property prediction from wood properties in eleven radiata pine clones

Patterns of variation in density, tracheid cross-section dimensions and kraft pulp fibre dimensions have been estimated bl a series of eleven 16-year-old radiata pine clones. The aims were to compare wood and pulp fibre measurements and to estimate the efficiency of sampling at breast height (BH: 1.4 metre) for prediction of whole tree wood and kraft pulp fibre properties. Radial sections were examined from six heights in twenty-four trees, representing the eleven clones. Density and tracheid cross-section dimensions were measured at a radial resolution of 50 mu m using SilviScan-1, a combined image analyser and scanning microdensitometer: Fibre length distributions of the kraft pulps were measured using the Kajaani FS200, and the cross-section dimensions of dried unrefined fibres were obtained by image analysis of thin sections. Correlations between BH wood properties and whole-tree estimates were very strong, but there was no significant correlation between tracheid perimeter and wall thickness. If is concluded that tracheid cross-section dimensions may be independently selected in tree improvement programs and that BH sampling is reliable for radiata pine clones.