Tree Form and Internal Tree Characteristics

Abstract

Previous chapters have dealt with the most common wood characteristics and their inheritance patterns. This chapter, and Chapter 11, cover a miscellany of wood properties that did not fit into the previous chapters; but that does not imply that this chapter does not contain important information. It does! For example, improving tree form is the fastest and easiest way to improve wood properties and needs major consideration. Although a limited amount can be done with it genetically, an alteration of the pattern of juvenile wood production will have a major effect on wood utilization. Although wood chemistry often shows a strong inheritance, its effect on the final product is usually less than that of anatomical changes, and research on genetic aspects of wood chemistry has been limited. Moisture content, bark percentage, and wood color all have important inheritance patterns.