Formation of Juvenile/Mature Wood in Pinus eldarica medw and Related Wood Properties

The aims of this study were: a) to investigate anatomical properties (tracheid length and annual ring width) and to examine the age of transition from juvenile to mature wood, b) to examine physical properties (oven dry density and volumetric shrinkage) in juvenile and mature wood, c) to determine the relationship among the wood various properties in juvenile/mature wood. Results showed that with increasing cambial age (ring from pith), the values of trachied length and annual ring width increased and decreased, respectively. The duration of juvenile wood was 24 year. The wood density and volume shrinkage content are higher in the mature wood while tracheid length is taller. After determining the age of transition (24 yr), the relationship between tracheid length and ring width and also between the wood density and volume shrinkage were investigated in the juvenile and mature wood by linear regression. According to this correlation, there was a negative relationship between tracheid length and ring width, but this relation in juvenile wood was stronger than mature wood. In addition, the correlation between the wood density and volumetric shrinkage in juvenile wood was weaker than mature wood.