Individual Tree, Intra- and Inter-clonal Variations in Wood Properties of the Clonal Ramets of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

Within tree, intra- and inter-clonal variations in wood anatomical properties of 4 years old clonal ramets of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. Were investigated. The material was collected from Clonal Testing Area, Lalkuan (Haldwani) and Bannakhera. The twelve best clonal ramets of better growth and form from Lalkuan and 5 clones of ITC-Bhadrachalam planted at Bannakhera were selected for the study. Radial variations in all the individual ramets were non-significant for all anatomical properties investigated, while inter-clonal variations were significant. Intra-clonal variations were non-significant. The values of Runkel ratio, shape factor and fibre-length to diameter ratio of the selected clones from Lalkuan were well within the permissible limits for producing better pulp. The wood properties of the clones were comparable with the clones of ITC- Bhadrachalam grown in South India except for fibre-length, Runkel ratio and shape factor which were significantly higher in South India. ITC-Bhadrachalam clones grown in Bannakhera and Lalkuan clones were not different from each other on the basis of wood anatomical properties. They grouped differently for wood anatomical characters. Fibre-length of different clones of the present study was comparable with the 8-10 year old seedling seed-raised plantation of the same species. Clone raised plantation wood showed better paper making wood properties than of the seedling seed raised trees even at the early age.