GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION AND CORRELATION IN SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND TRACHEID LENGTH OF JUVENILE WOOD OF MASSON PINE

From the study on juvenile wood properties of 26 provenances of masson pine, we found that the effects of provenance variation were small for wood specific gravity (SG) and tracheid length (TL), and differences within provenance were the main sources of variation of both traits. There appeared no latitude-oriented variant model for SG and TL. Because of stronger negative correlation at provenance level and no significant correlation at individual level within provenance between SG and growth rate of height and diameter, we should tentatively select the provenances with high growth rate, and then select individuals based on growth rate and wood traits within provenance selected. Indirect selection cannot be ignored in the program of wood property improvement.