Variations in growth traits and wood physicochemical properties among Pinus koraiensis families in Northeast China

This study aimed to explore and improve the different economic values of Pinus koraiensis(Siebold and Zucc.)by examining the variations in 6 growth traits and 9 physicochemical wood properties among 53 P.koraiensis half-sib families.Growth traits assessed included height,diameter at breast height,volume,degree of stem straight-ness,stem form,and branch number per node,while wood properties assessed included density,fiber length and width,fiber length to width ratio,and cellulose,hemicel-lulose,holocellulose,lignin,and ash contents.Except for degree of stem straightness and branch number per node,all other traits exhibited highly significant variations(P<0.01)among families.The coefficients of variation ranged from 5.3(stem form)to 66.7%(ash content),whereas,the herit-ability ranged from 0.136(degree of stem straightness)to 0.962(ash content).Significant correlations were observed among growth traits and wood physicochemical properties.Principal component analysis identified four distinct groups representing growth traits,wood chemical and physical properties,and stem form traits.Multi-trait comprehensive evaluation identified three groups of elite families based on breeding objectives,including rapid growth,improved timber production for building and furniture materials,and pulpwood production.These specific families should be used to establish new plantations.

Potential tradeoffs between intraspecific and interspecific trait variations along an environmental gradient in a subtropical forest

There has been growing attention to intraspecific variation in trait-based plant ecology. However, studies on these changes across ontogenetic stages and the potential trade-offs with interspecific traits along environmental gradients are rare. In this study, we measured six wood and bark traits of 1030 trees of six species(Castanopsis nigrescens; C. carlesii; Lithocarpus polystachyus; L. synbalanos; Ormosia glaberrima; O. pachycarpa) from a10-ha plot in a subtropical forest. Mean intraspecific variation in bark thickness and bark percentage to DBH was more than twice that for wood density and bark density.Bark thickness and bark percentage showed a consistent trend with increasing tree size. Small-tree traits were more variable than the same traits in larger trees. Altitude,convexity and soil nutrients explained the majority of the variations in the six traits, while sibling species had similar relationships between traits and environmental variables.Trees with dense wood and thin bark were usually found on steep slopes at lower altitudes. Our findings show intraspecific trait variability has different spatial patterns compared with interspecific variabilities along an environmental gradient.