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Background and Aims Wood density is a key variable for understanding life history strategies in tropical trees. Differences in wood density and its radial variation were related to the shade-tolerance of six canopy tree species in seasonally dry tropical forest in Thailand. In addition, using tree ring measurements, the influence of tree size, age and annual increment on radial density gradients was analysed. Methods Wood density was determined from tree cores using X-ray densitometry. X-ray films were digitized and images were measured, resulting in a continuous density profile for each sample. Mixed models were then developed to analyse differences in average wood density and in radial gradients in density among the six tree species, as well as the effects of tree age, size and annual increment on radial increases in Melia azedarach. Key Results Average wood density generally reflected differences in shade-tolerance, varying by nearly a factor of two. Radial gradients occurred in all species, ranging from an increase of (approx. 70%) in the shade-intolerant Melia azedarach to a decrease of approx. 13% in the shade-tolerant Neolitsea obtusifolia, but the slopes of radial gradients were generally unrelated to shade-tolerance. For Melia azedarach, radial increases were most-parsimoniously explained by log-transformed tree age and annual increment rather than by tree size. Conclusions The results indicate that average wood density generally reflects differences in shade-tolerance in seasonally dry tropical forests; however, inferences based on wood density alone are potentially misleading for species with complex life histories. In addition, the findings suggest that a ‘whole-tree’ view of life history and biomechanics is important for understanding patterns of radial variation in wood density. Finally, accounting for wood density gradients is likely to improve the accuracy of estimates of stem biomass and carbon in tropical trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The orientation of the tracheid cells with respect to the stem axis (grain angle, spiral grain) exerts a strong influence on numerous material properties. Therefore, several methods have been developed to assess this wood anatomical feature. The current study compares SilviScan spiral grain measurements, which uses X-ray diffractometry, with direct goniometer readings. The correlation between these two methods yielded an r2 of 0.874 and a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.21 clearly demonstrating that X-ray diffractometry can provide accurate and rapid information on the grain orientation in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) or similar structured softwoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]