Influence of tree height and diameter on wood basic density, cellulose and fibre characteristics in Melia dubia Cav. families.

In the present study, phenotypic and genotypic correlations between tree growth traits (height, diameter and biomass) with some of the important wood quality parameters such as basic density, cellulose content, lignin content and fibre characteristics, viz. length, diameter, lumen diameter, double cell wall thickness and fibre content, were worked out using data from ten families of five-year-old Melia dubia raised by seed sources of ten superior candidate plus trees (CPTs). Result showed that medium to strong genetic and phenotypic correlations were recorded within and between growth traits and wood quality parameters studied. Direct positive strong association was observed between tree biomass with height and its diameter. Similarly, basic density of wood was phenotypically and genotypically associated with cellulose content, fibre length and fibre content; furthermore, all these parameters showed negative association with lignin content, fibre diameter, lumen diameter and double cell wall thickness. Genetic correlation showed that wood quality parameters, viz. basic density, cellulose content, fibre length and fibre content, were positively influenced by the height and diameter of trees. Thus, these parameters may be considered while selecting superior genotypes of M. dubia for better pulp and paper quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]