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Variation of extractives content in heartwood and sapwood of Eucalyptus globulus trees

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Abstract

The variation in extractives content in sapwood and heartwood was investigated among 12 trees in each of four commercial plantations of Eucalyptus globulus in central Portugal. The study was carried out at the 15% height level and extractions used successively dichloromethane, ethanol and water. At all sites, heartwood had significantly more extractives than sapwood, on average 3.8 and 2.4%, respectively. Most extractives consisted of ethanol soluble material (on average 52% of total extractives). Among the sites, there was a statistically significant difference in the content of extractives but the most important source of variation was the within-tree variation between sapwood and heartwood. Differences in the content of extractives were also observed among trees. A strong relation between extractives content and heartwood proportion was found. The potential loss of pulp yield and problems associated with accumulation of extractives are directly related to the heartwood proportion in the eucalypt stems. Forest management should take into account heartwood development and selection for minimising heartwood extractives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ecologia Funcional, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Coimbra, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria C. Morais

  2. Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Helena Pereira

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  1. Maria C. Morais
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  2. Helena Pereira
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Correspondence to Helena Pereira.

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Morais, M.C., Pereira, H. Variation of extractives content in heartwood and sapwood of Eucalyptus globulus trees. Wood Sci Technol 46, 709–719 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-011-0438-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-011-0438-7

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