J. T. Lima, M. C. Breese, C. M. Cahalan
Variation in microfibril angle in Eucalyptus clones
The microfibril angle of the S2 layer in wood fibres is an
ultra-microscopical feature that influences important
properties affecting the utilisation of timber. However, this
characteristic is as yet little studied, and this is especially
true of the genus Eucalyptus. The microfibril angle of the
S2 layer of the secondary wall was measured in fibres
taken from eight-year-old trees of 11 Eucalyptus clones
growing in four sites in Brazil. The overall mean microfibril
angle measured was 8.8°. While the angle seemed to
decrease slightly from pith to bark in a non-linear fashion,
this decrease was not statistically significant. The microfibril
angle showed statistically significant differences
between sites and between clones, although the broad
sense heritability of the microfibril angel was low
(h2=0.293). Various theories attempt to explain the
microfibril orientation, but we conclude that environmental
stresses play an important role in defining the angle
in Eucalyptus wood.
Holzforschung, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Volume: 58, 03/2004
Pages: 160 - 166
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