Provenance effect on the ring structure of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) wood by X-ray microdensitometry

- Context Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is a tropical timber which is appreciated worldwide and has been planted into many regions of the tropics. It is essential to obtain information about provenance variation of basic wood properties in order to preserve the wood quality of endproducts derived from future plantations. Figuring is one of the wood characteristics valued for panelling and furniture and it is an important parameter to evaluate the quality of teak wood. The ring structure affects within-ring and between-ring colour variation and, therefore, the figure of wood and the related aesthetical aspects. - Methods By means of microdensity profiles, we constructed a segmented linear model that depicts the anatomical structure of the rings. It effectively distinguished ring porous and diffuse porous rings, leading to the development of an efficient ring porosity index, further used to study the provenance variation of the ring structure. - Results Asignificant provenance effect was detected for both wood density variables and ring anatomical structure. Although no correlation was detected between the ring structure and the precipitation level at the provenance origin, the two provenances from very wet climates were distinguished by low values of ring porosity index (diffuse porous ring). - Conclusion The progenies in our study, collected from origins with various climates, planted in a new climate, seem to maintain to some extent the wood characteristics typical of their mother trees, suggesting that these ring characteristics may be inherited.