Radial trends of wood density and components in Pinus nigra Arn. of Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Radial trends of wood density, earlywood density, latewood density and latewood proportion in Pinus nigra Arn. are fitted in juvenile wood and mature wood by means of a cubic-linear segmented regression model. This method allows to compare radial trends and to estimate the transition age between juvenile and mature wood. Latewood density and latewood proportion determine wood density and peculiar technologic characteristics of European black pine wood. None significant effect are found between two analyzed provenances (Serranía de Cuenca and Sierras de Cazorla-Segura), but some differences between sites were related to genetic or environmental factors. Site index has a more significant influence on wood density and latewood proportion than earlywood density and latewood density. This unknown effect in bibliography is discussed and the importance of latewood proportion on radial and axial wood patterns is showed.