Relationship between basic density and acoustic wave propagation: use for predicted wood quality of improved willow clones in Argentina

LOVAL SABRINA; CERRILLO T; CABALLE G; MARTINEZ MEIER A; MONTEOLIVA S; SPAVENTO E

Novi Sad

Simposio; Eight International Poplar Symposium (IPS VIII); 2022

IUFRO

The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between basic density and acoustic wave propagation in standing trees to provide a new rapid and simple phenotyping tool for wood quality selection of structural use in new genotypes of willows (Salix spp.).The present study was carried out in 82 trees of 12-year-old trials implanted in two differential sites with respect to flood protection (highly protected and unprotected). The willows under study were: three hybrids S. matsudana Koidz. x S. alba L. (Agronales, Los Arroyos and Tehuelche) and a genotype achieved by open pollination of S. alba L. (Yaguareté). Yaguareté and Los Arroyos were clones tolerant to watterlogging, while Agronales and Tehuelche not.For each clone, diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (TH) and acoustic wave propagation (AWP - Microsecond Timer, Fakopp) were measured in standing trees. Subsequently, felling and sawing of each tree was carried out to cut small-sized pieces and semi-structural pieces obtained from the internal and external areas of the log. The small-sized pieces were used for quantitative anatomical analysis and basic density (BD) determination. On each semi-structural piece the AWP were also measured.A statistical correlation analysis between AWP in standing trees and technological variables measured was carried out.Depending on the clone and implantation site the results were variable. Yaguareté and Los Arroyos (both tolerant to waterlogging) presented negative correlations between BD and AWP (-0,87 p=0.05 and -0.64 p=0.12, respectively) in unprotected site (the best site for them). Agronales and Tehuelche (both not tolerant to waterlogging) presented a significant but contrary correlations between these variables in the highly protected site (-0.71 p=0.002 for Agronales, and 0.65 p=0.009 for Tehuelche).Finally, the correlations between AWP on the standing tree and in semi-structural pieces are under development, as well as the generation of juvenile-adult prediction models.In agreement with these results, we can use AWP as a non-destructive and quick measure to estimate the BD for Yaguareté, Agronales and Tehuelche.The significant correlations (and future prediction models) between growth, technological variables and acoustic measurement (taken as a non-destructive classification technique) will allow us to provide a new rapid and simple phenotyping tool for the Improvement Program.