Basic wood density, fiber length and growth rate in two Eucalyptus globulus provenances from Argentina

The aims of the work were to assess basic wood density and fiber length variation in two provenances of Eucalyptus globulus growing in Buenos Aires, Argentine, and to analyze the relationships between wood properties and growth rate. Seven years old trees were selected, 10 corresponding to local and 10 to Valdivia-Chile provenances. The wood properties were determined at different tree heights and at three radial positions for the fiber length. The provenances were significantly different in basic density (local 546.9 +/- 36 kg m(-3); Valdivia-Chile 490.8 +/- 38 kg m(-3)) and similar in fiber length (local 863.6 +/- 38.8 mu m; Valdivia-Chile 830.2 +/- 67.4 mu m). The analyses of variance showed the importance of sample height for basic density variation, and radial position for fiber length. The provenances had different tendencies across the log for wood density. The local provenance presented increasing wood density from the base to the top; however Valdivia-Chile provenance had not variation. Fiber length decreased slightly to the top in both local and Valdivia-Chile provenances. The random variance of tree factor was very important for density (62 %) and for fiber length (59 %). Provenances had different total height increment (Valdivia-Chile 2.6 +/- 0.3 m year(-1), local 2.1 +/- 0.2 m year(-1)). No correlation was present between growth rate and wood properties.