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Summary: The illegal harvest of timber and the subsequent production of charcoal have been contributing to the deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon and its degradation. Analysis of wood anatomy is a well-established tool used to detect illegally harvested wood and is commonly employed in the control of illegal forestry activities. This study aimed to contribute to a database used for the anatomical identification of wood and charcoal from tree species commonly harvested and marketed in the Amazon. The macro- and microscopic characteristics of wood and charcoal for 15 forest species were described. Characteristics that could be described in detail, such as vessel grouping, type of axial parenchyma, and in some cases, perforation plates and uniseriate rays, are fundamental to the identification of wood and charcoal that are illegally, or even legally, marketed. The study aids in the monitoring of the illegal marketing of wood and charcoal and will contribute to the construction of a database and reference collections that will be available for research, training, and use by forest managers, anatomists and anthracologists who study both wood and charcoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood anatomy of Gymnanthes klotzschiana was studied, to assess whether there are variations in the secondary xylem under different geopedological conditions. The species is dominant in subtropical alluvial forests and can be established in different ecological conditions, especially regarding soil water regime. Wood samples were collected in the plain of the Iguaçu River, in Paraná, Brazil, encompassing three geopedological conditions: gleysol, fluvisol and psamment, characterized by varying degrees of water saturation, ranging from very poorly drained to heavily drained. Considerable intraspecific variations were found in the xylem in response to geopedological conditions. Most of the variation occurs in attributes related to the biomechanical and hydraulic functions (e.g. fibers and vessels), with cells smaller in gleysol, larger in fluvisol and intermediate in psamment. For some variables, the xylem has similar responses in conditions of water deficit and permanent water saturation, indicating a probable influence of physiological drought. The phenotypic plasticity of the species explains its high adaptability to the selective and variable conditions of riparian environments. The study contributes to understanding the species' ecological responses, highlighting its relevance as a keystone species in the dynamic and fragile ecosystems of the floodplains, fundamental for the maintenance of many ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on Amazon wood waste focuses on the species' individual characteristics, not considering the conditions usually found in the industries, such as variations in the storage method and the waste's condition after exposure to the environment. Accordingly, the objective of this paper was to analyze the management of waste generated by wood industries located in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and to determine the physical and chemical properties of the stocked particulate waste for energy-generation purposes. Twenty-four industries located in eight cities were investigated regarding the generation, management, and trade of wood waste, and samples of the particulate waste were collected for characterization. Each of the evaluated industries processed an average of 857.92 m2 of wood logs per month, and 51.13% of this volume was waste. The species Erisma uncinatum and Qualea spp. stood out due to their greater processing volumes. The types of waste found were of firewood (in 100% of the industries), sawdust (87.5%), wood shavings (16.5%), and wood chips (12.5%). The main destinations of the traded waste were: intermediate buyers (30%), bioenergy plants (22%), cold rooms (18%), and grain dryers (16%). The humidity and bulk density of sawdust and wood chips were, respectively, over 41% and 236 kg m−3. The ash content of 76.7% of the waste was under 2.0%. If the 24 evaluated industries performed the thermochemical conversion of their wood waste, it would be possible to supply electricity to approximately 63 houses with average consumption of 162 kWh/month. The effective management of the waste will result in its commercial appreciation and increase its energy potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tectona grandis L. f. (teak) is highly valued in the international market, but its volume and properties vary depending on its genetic material and planting site. Evaluating these factors is crucial for promoting new plantations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of genetic material (clones TG1 and TG3 and seminal material) and planting site (Nova Maringá and Água Boa, Mato Grosso, Brazil) on morphological parameters (heartwood, sapwood, bark, pith proportions, and pith eccentricity), physical properties (shrinkage and air-dry density), and mechanical properties (static bending strength—fm, compressive strength—fc0, Janka hardness—fH90, and shear strength—fv0). For this purpose, we sampled five trees aged 13 years per genetic material from commercial plantations. In Nova Maringá, trees exhibited, on average, 56.07% heartwood, while in Água Boa, this value was less than 50%. Seminal material showed the lowest percentage of heartwood (49.2%). The pith percentage was significantly greater in Água Boa than in Nova Maringá, regardless of the genetic material. We observed the highest standard deviation (5.61) in pith eccentricity for the seminal material. Both the planting site and genetic material influenced the air-dry density (~12% moisture content), which ranged from 0.535 to 0.618 g·cm−3. Trees grown in Nova Maringá produced wood with higher dimensional stability than those from Água Boa, exhibiting a 14% lower radial shrinkage and a 6% lower volumetric variation. In Nova Maringá, the wood from the seminal material exhibited greater resistance. On the other hand, in Água Boa, that material showed lower resistance (fv0, fm, and fc0), or there was no significant difference (fH90) compared to the clonal materials. When comparing the clonal materials (TG1 and TG3) at each planting site, they demonstrated similar mechanical properties. The variability in physical and mechanical properties among different genetic materials and planting locations highlights the need to select appropriate teak genetic materials for each region. We concluded that more productive teak clones can be selected without compromising the physical and mechanical properties of the wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how thinning strategies impact wood quality and quantity for different purposes is of interest, given that plantation management is often based on parameters that require validation under varying growth conditions. Planted forests for solid purposes in the northern region of Urugay, western Argentina and South of Brazil are usually managed in initial stockings ranging from 800 to 1200 trees·ha−1 depending on the use of clones or seeds. Subsequent thinnings are applied (at plantation ages varying from 3 to 11 years) up to final stockings of around 200 trees·ha−1. This study evaluated contrasting thinning regimes applied early in the crop cycle, with an initial tree density of 840 trees·ha−1. Two thinning treatments were applied at 1.5 and 7.3 years, reducing tree densities to 700–400 and 400–100 trees·ha−1, respectively. Growth analyses were conducted from 1.5 to 20.8 years, considering total height, diameter at breast height, individual volume, total and commercial volume per hectare, mean annual increase, and current annual increase. At the final harvest, contrasting tree densities of 100, 250, and 400 trees·ha−1 were sampled to assess wood density and mechanical properties (bending and compression on small-scale clear samples). Individual growth and wood properties were related to a Stand Density Index to understand the effect of competition on these values. The results identified thinning regimes that resulted in the most significant individual and per-hectare growth (both in thinning and clear felling) and the optimal harvest time under specific growth conditions. We assessed the proportions of commercial logs for sawmill and pulp uses, providing valuable inputs for subsequent economic analyses of thinning regimes aiming for the most convenient combination of wood products. Wood's physical and mechanical properties were relatively little affected by contrasting levels of competition between trees; therefore, the choice of silvicultural system will depend on production and economic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood basic density (WD) plays a crucial role in estimating forest biomass; moreover, improving wood-density estimates is needed to reduce uncertainties in the estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon stocks. Understanding variations in this density along the tree trunk and its impact on biomass estimates is underexplored in the literature. In this study, the vertical variability of WD was assessed along the stems of large trees that had a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm from a dense ombrophilous forest on terra firme (unflooded uplands) in Acre, Brazil. A total of 224 trees were sampled, including 20 species, classified by wood type. The average WD along the stem was determined by the ratio of oven-dry mass to saturated volume. Five models were tested, including linear and nonlinear ones, to fit equations for WD, selecting the best model. The variation among species was notable, ranging from 0.288 g cm−3 (Ceiba pentandra, L., Gaertn) to 0.825 g cm−3 (Handroanthus serratifolius, Vahl., S. Grose), with an average of 0.560 g cm−3 (±0.164, standard deviation). Significant variation was observed among individuals, such as in Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (H. ex D.), which ranged from 0.305 to 0.655 g cm−3. WD was classified as low (≤0.40 g cm−3), medium (0.41–0.60 g cm−3), and high (≥0.61 g cm−3). The variability in WD along the stem differs by wood type. In trees with low-density wood, density shows irregular variation but tends to increase along the stem, whereas it decreases in species with medium- and high-density wood. The variation in WD along the stem can lead to underestimations or overestimations, not only in individual trees and species but also in total stocks when estimating forest biomass. Not considering this systematic bias results in significant errors, especially in extrapolations to vast areas, such as the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the wood chemical and energetic characteristics of Eucalyptus spp. clones planted in three sites in the Midwest of Brazil. Thus, five clones from Eucalyptus spp. were planted in different sites aiming to determine the qualitative characteristics of the wood resulting from the variation in the tree growth environment and the genetic material. The same clones were planted in the three sites to determine the genotype × environment interaction. The trees were then sampled at 5 years after planting for their physical–chemical and energetic characterization. The results showed that the wood characteristics vary in different proportions according to the clone, just as the growth environment of the trees alters the behavior of the clones for the same characteristics. The edaphic variables affected the wood characteristics, inferring that the water content in the soil has more effect on the wood properties than the water content in the air, mainly on wood basic density. The results of this study indicate that using the appropriate genotype related to the environment conditions determines the wood characteristics, since the wood properties are strongly influenced by the edaphoclimatic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the world's largest producer of charcoal. Therefore, there is need for improvement in the gravimetric yield of conversion and the reduction of gas emissions, including greenhouse gases (GHGs), released during carbonization. The objective was to apply the methodology of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) to evaluate the emission of GHG, mainly CO2 and CH4. The charcoal production kiln-furnace system used was composed of 4 kilns with a capacity of ~6 t of wood, each. The MRV cluster of coal gravimetric yield and gas burners were used to determine the gravimetric yield and burner efficiency and thus evaluate the emission of GHGs generated in the carbonization system. The carbonization was performed in an isolated way producing, in total, 3.34 t of charcoal, with an average gravimetric yield of 25.82%. The MRV methodology was effective for evaluating the GHG emissions. The wood burner reduced by 50% the methane burning and provided a reduction of 0.392 tCO2 eq (23.91%). The humidity of wood and high precipitation were the main limiting factors in this research, and responsible for the decrease in the gravimetric yield. The kiln-furnace system was effective for a sustainable production with the use of non-continuous carbonization gas burners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptotermes havilandi (Sjöstedt, 1900) (Blattodea: Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) is an important pest of wood worldwide. Incorporating morphology and molecular analysis, we present here the first record of this species in natural ecosystems inserted in the wettest sectors of the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. The fact that previous extensive surveys of termites in this region (more than 30 sites) have not detected this species suggests that C. havilandi has only recently expanded its distribution. Considering that our findings were made in natural ecosystems, our results suggest that this important pest may ecologically compete with species present in Brazil, which requires specific impact studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the variables that influence freight cost in the forest supply chain and to fit nonlinear regression models to estimate the freight cost of wood transportation from the production areas to the processing units. The data used for cost analysis considered the following variables: volume of wood (m3); average fuel consumption (km/l) and average speed of the complete journey (km/h) per round trip. The results showed that there is a strong positive correlation between the variables transport distance and the freight cost of the wood, as well as between the moisture content of the wood and the freight cost of the wood. The load capacity of the vehicle combinations showed a mean negative correlation with the freight cost of the wood, and the length of the wood did not show a correlation with the cost of the transported wood. The fitted models for estimating the value of wood freight showed a high degree of adjustment of the dependent variable, indicating a good capacity for extrapolating the results from these variables. Such results emphasize the importance of optimizing transport routes, controlling wood moisture, maximizing vehicle volumetric load capacity, and using cost forecast models in order to make correct and efficient decisions in the forest supply chain context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest road densities which are too high increase production costs, planting area loss, and environmental impacts. To solve this problem and plan an adequate forest road density, it is necessary to analyze and consider the topography, road network-related costs, and the type and number of machines to meet the required wood production. The aim of this study was to determine the current road density (RD), the optimal economic road density (ORD) and operational road density (OD) in flat and sloping site conditions for the full tree harvesting system in Southern Brazil. The RD was determined by the ratio of total road lengthand the total productive area. ORD was determined based on the transport geometry model, considering the minimization of the sum of unit costs of road construction and maintenance, loss of productive area, mitigation of road impacts, and wood extraction. The OD was determined considering the minimum number of extraction machines necessary to meet the annual demand for wood. All forest road densities were lower in flat site conditions than in sloping areas. In both conditions (flat and sloping), RDs (126 and 180 m ha−1, respectively) were higher than ORDs (53 and 65 m ha−1, respectively), which were lower than ODs (92 and 123 m ha−1, respectively). Therefore, OD can be an alternative parameter for managers to use in forest road network planning, mainly in conditions where ORD is not feasible to adopt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are considered promising habitats for the presence of marine and freshwater fungal species because of their favourable environmental conditions. Janhula paraensis sp. nov. was found on decaying wood collected in the intertidal zone in fluvial beaches of Mosqueiro Island, Pará, Brazil. The new species differs from others in the genus by its morphology including dark brown ascospores, with thick and dark bands at septum when mature, a hyaline cap at both ends and the absence of a mucilaginous sheath. It was not possible to obtain molecular data for the new species. New records of Boerlagiomyces websteri, Corollospora pseudopulchella, Falciformispora lignatilis, and Savoryella lignicola for South America and Annulusmagnus triseptatus for Brazil are reported. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are presented for all species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study characterized the technological properties of eight woods from small-diameter forest species with vast occurrence in the Central Amazon (Amazonas/Brazil), as a potential for indication in a forest exploration plan. Samples were obtained from the managed area, and 24 trees (diameter at breast height ≤ 50 cm) were used in chemical and physical–mechanical determinations. Among the eight species studied, the wood matá-matá yellow (Eschweilera odora) had the highest concentration of extractives and polyphenols (7.08 and 2.63%), while piãozinho (Microdropsis scleroxylon) had the highest lignin content (34.80%). For the physical–mechanical properties, the basic density ranged from 0.56 for ingá-white (Inga alba), and 0.93 g/cm3 for piãozinho, and matá-matá black (Eschweilera truncata) showed the highest static bending stiffness of 17,350 MPa and static bending strength of 173.93 MPa. The multivariate analysis (principal component analysis) indicated the formation of five groups, and the matá-matá black grouping was characterized by higher values of ash, static bending stiffness, and strength. The quality of the wood of the studied species indicates use in the forest industry (structural use, energy, and engineered wood products), where new species can be included in the sustainable forest management of the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high growth rates of the forests planted in Brazil and the variations of the mechanical properties within a tree, this study aimed to evaluate the strength (MOR) and stiffness (MOE) in static bending according to the juvenile and adult wood, and the grown-rings inclination at the transversal area of clean specimens of Pinus taeda. Subsequently, the woods were classified in its structural gradings. Pinus taeda logs with 30 years old had the growth rings delimited at every six years on the transversal area. The juvenile wood was represented by the zone of 0 to 6 years of growth (marked with red), and 6.1-12 years (blue). The zone of 12.1-18 (orange) was considered as transition wood and from 18.1-24 (green) and 24.1-30 years (yellow), adult wood. After the sawing, 25 boards were selected to the sawing of the specimens (n = 104) for the static bending test. Growthring inclination was measured as a function of the direction of the load applied at the bending test. Statistical tests were performed in a factorial scheme with the MOR and MOE to static bending. Factors were independent (mechanical properties and growth-rings inclination). The 0-6-year-old wood was not indicated for structural use. Woods between 12-30 years old showed a minimum compatible result to be classified for structural use. The inclination did not influence at the modulus of elasticity and strength at bending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood energy plantations are important sources of feedstock for bioeconomy, given their potential to replace fossil fuels, which would ultimately result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Eucalyptus and Corymbia woods have been widely used for the production of firewood, wood chips, and charcoal for the steel industry in Brazil. The present study aims to assess the properties of non-commercial Eucalyptus and Corymbia woods for energy purpose in Brazil. Six years after planting, the chemical, physical, energy, and thermal properties of Corymbia citriodora, Corymbia variegata, Corymbia henryi, Corymbia torelliana, Eucalyptus amplifolia, Eucalyptus longirostrata, Eucalyptus major, and Eucalyptus urophylla were analysed. The results showed significant variations in basic density (480–662 kg·m−3), total extractives (1.03–4.56% db), lignin (28.33–34.25% db), holocellulose (61.54–69.07% db), higher heating value (19.22–20.33 MJ·kg−1), syringyl/guaiacyl ratio (2.20–3.36), energy density (9.45–12.51 GJ·m−3), ash content (< 1% db), and pyrolysis activation energy (247–468 kJ·mol−1). Compared to E. urophylla's wood, the most used species in the steel industry in Brazil, the wood from E. major, E. amplifolia, and C. torelliana had properties that favoured the production of high-quality charcoal for use in steel industry. C. citriodora, C. variegata, C. henryi, and E. longirostrata presented a high potential for use in energy cogeneration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the identification of species and control illegal charcoal production, this study aimed to anatomically characterize the carbonized wood of species native to the Araucaria forest areas, including Nectandra megapotamica, Ocotea indecora, Ocotea diospyrifolia, Ocotea puberula, Balfourodendron riedelianum, Chrysophyllum marginatum and Zanthoxylum rhoifolium. The samples were collected in the Planalto Catarinense region (high plains of the state of Santa Catarina). Three disks were removed from three trees of each species, selected randomly. All discs were sectioned to obtain samples close to the different parts of the trunk (near bark, intermediate and near pith). These sample were then carbonized for 392 minutes in a muffle furnace using a ramp regime with a maximum temperature of 450 °C. Following carbonization, there was no significant degradation of the anatomical structure and cell arrangement, enabling the characterization and identification of species through comparison with wood description references. The position of samples in the trunk did not influence the anatomical characteristics, facilitating species identification. Wood from the Lauraceae family exhibited greater vessel diameter and lower vessel frequency compared to samples from the Rutaceae and Sapotaceae families. Discrimination of Chrysophyllum marginatum from the other evaluated species was possible based on vessel grouping, ray width and ray frequency. The results obtained contribute to a charcoal database of Atlantic Forest species, providing valuable information for practical applications in forestry supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codes of practices and standards for products and activities are available regulations for global sectors, although they are dedicated to national scopes such as civil construction in Brazil. These regulations align with industry compliance as they establish mandatory or voluntary issues. Brazilian developers must properly regard construction regulations, which mostly dedicated to concrete and steel buildings but rarely to timber buildings. Through construction regulations, the production of timber buildings can become more standardized and scalable to ensure the steady quality of finished products. From this perspective, this paper evaluated Brazil's timber housing production sector's utilization and access to procedures, standards, guidelines, certifications, and seals. A standardized questionnaire was designed and refined to analyze this local perspective. Face-to-face interviews with sampled companies were conducted using a randomized sampling procedure. The margin of error was obtained using significant sampling of this sector. The findings evinced that most Brazilian developers underuse timber building regulations in their production and management practices and still need to familiarize themselves with this important subject. The codes must establish requirements for each timber construction technique to represent different technologies and also specify particularities and added performances to suit varied projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid the intrinsic difficulties regarding the characterization of wood (i.e., different applications in different directions), various normative documents present the relationships between properties; the Brazilian standard is of particular interest in this regard, because Brazil has a huge diversity of tree species from tropical forests, usually used in construction. In view of this, this research aimed to propose a new list of properties to be inserted in future versions of the Brazilian standards in order to help identify the species shear strength. It is expected that there is a correlation between the characteristic values of flexural strength (fm,k) and shear strength in the direction parallel to the wood fibers (fv,0,k), leading to models that make it possible to estimate one of the properties if the other is known, which was the main objective of this research. After finding a strong correlation between the properties, various regression models were evaluated. It can be concluded that the linear model composed only by the angular coefficient (equation with only one variable) presented a determination coefficient of 76.45%, which shows the good precision achieved in the estimation of one of the two variables compared if the other is known. Additionally, an attempt was made to define which probability distribution represents the resistance data by applying maximum likelihood (MLE), concluding that there is little difference between the representation by the normal distribution and the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. Another approach was to define the undermining coefficient to ensure the reliability of the prediction equation by the experiment-based calibration methodology defined by Eurocode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for species that produce high-quality charcoal is necessary to reduce the use of non-renewable sources of energy in the steel industry. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the quality of new and non-commercial charcoal species in Brazil. Eight species of Corymbia and Eucalyptus were sampled and carbonized on a laboratory scale. The gravimetric yields of the carbonization, proximate and ultimate analysis, apparent density (AD) and energy density (ED), higher heating value (HHV), ignition (Di), and combustion (Si) indexes were determined through the curve of thermogravimetric derivative (DTG). The results suggest that C. variegata, E. longirostrata, E. major , C. henryi, and C. citriodora are competitively promising for producing charcoal for the steel industry when compared to the commercial species (E. urophylla) since they produce low reactivity charcoal (Si ∼3 × 107%2 min−2 °C−3), high energy density (>13 GJ m−3) and apparent density (>400 kg m−3). These characteristics are essential for a better energy performance, making the non-commercial species appropriate for use in Brazilian steel industry since there is a reduction on the energy consumption in the blast furnace per ton of iron produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was identifed anatomically and describe wood species marketed as charcoal in the region of Papanduva, SC, southern Brazil, to provide technical information to help in identification of species from the Atlantic Forest biome. Packages of 3 to 10 kg of charcoal were purchased, a pre-selection from more similar pieces was performed, macro and microscopic images were obtained for posterior anatomical description and material identification. Mislabeling was found in some charcoal packages, including genus, from both angiosperm and gymnosperm groups. Samples were found in decreasing frequency order, from the genera Eucalyptus/Corymbia, Ocotea/Nectandra, Acacia, Pinus, Araucaria, Alchornea, Casearia, Cedrela, Eugenia, Hieronyma, Ilex, Schinus and Zanthoxyllum. In gymnosperms, it was possible to verify growth rings distinct, with differences in cell wall thickness of tracheid and resin canals in pinus. In angiosperms, diffuse porosity was more frequent, with highlight to semiring porous in genus Cedrela. The presence of tyloses was predominant in genus Eucalyptus/Corymbia; septate fibers were characteristics for genus Ocotea/Nectandra. Simple perforate plate and alternate intervessel pits were predominant, with exception of genus Ilex with scalariform perforation plate and opposite intervessel pits. Secretory canals were observed in genus Zanthoxyllum. The predominance of eucalyptus from planted forests was observed, but the presence of araucaria, which is on the list of endangered species, indicated the importance of better supervision and training for awareness of producers and local traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The height, diameter, and leaf area of trees influence the anatomical structures because rapid growth requires maintenance of the water conduction in sapwood, despite environmental variations that may limit water supply. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of water availability conditions on the soil in humid and dry sites, on the percentage of sapwood along the trunk, and on the hydraulic properties of the wood of eucalyptus clones. The experimental plantings were carried out in Brazil in humid and dry sites. Six-year-old E. urophylla and E. grandis × E. camaldulensis clones were evaluated under 100% water (W) at each site considering local precipitation and 33% rainfall exclusion (WE) conditions. The wood was evaluated for heartwood and sapwood percentage, apparent sapwood density, diameter, wall thickness and vessel area, potential hydraulic conductivity, and Huber value. Rainfall exclusion at the dry site promoted an increase of 9% of sapwood when compared to the humid site, with an impact on diameter, area, wall thickness and vessel composition index, and lower Huber value for E. grandis × E. camaldulensis wood. The rainfall exclusion increased the sapwood percentage and reduced the growth of E. urophylla. E. grandis × E. camaldulensis had a higher sapwood apparent density at the dry site, while E. urophylla had a higher density at the humid site. The genetic diversity of the clones was expressed in the tree growth and in the sapwood content and was modified by humid and dry sites, which demonstrates different rusticity levels of the clones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amazonian savannas are isolated patches of open habitats found within the extensive matrix of Amazonian tropical forests. There remains limited evidence on how Amazonian plants from savannas differ in the traits related to drought resistance and water loss control. Previous studies have reported several xeromorphic characteristics of Amazonian savanna plants at the leaf and branch levels that are linked to soil, solar radiation, rainfall and seasonality. How anatomical features relate to plant hydraulic functioning in this ecosystem is less known and instrumental if we want to accurately model transitions in trait states between alternative vegetation in Amazonia. In this context, we combined studies of anatomical and hydraulic traits to understand the structure–function relationships of leaf and wood xylem in plants of Amazonian savannas. We measured 22 leaf, wood and hydraulic traits, including embolism resistance (as P50), Hydraulic Safety Margin (HSM) and isotope-based water use efficiency (WUE), for the seven woody species that account for 75% of the biomass of a typical Amazonian savanna on rocky outcrops in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Few anatomical traits are related to hydraulic traits. Our findings showed wide variation exists among the seven species studied here in resistance to embolism, water use efficiency and structural anatomy, suggesting no unique dominant functional plant strategy to occupy an Amazonian savanna. We found wide variation in resistance to embolism (−1.6 ± 0.1 MPa and −5.0 ± 0.5 MPa) with species that are less efficient in water use (e.g. Kielmeyera rubriflora , Macairea radula , Simarouba versicolor , Parkia cachimboensis and Maprounea guianensis) showing higher stomatal conductance potential, supporting xylem functioning with leaf succulence and/or safer wood anatomical structures and that species that are more efficient in water use (e.g. Norantea guianensis and Alchornea discolor) can exhibit riskier hydraulic strategies. Our results provide a deeper understanding of how branch and leaf structural traits combine to allow for different hydraulic strategies among coexisting plants. In Amazonian savannas, this may mean investing in buffering water loss (e.g. succulence) at leaf level or safer structures (e.g. thicker pit membranes) and architectures (e.g. vessel grouping) in their branch xylem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teakwood from fast-growth plantations is commercialized at increasingly younger ages for economic reasons. However, wood features are influenced by the age of the tree. This study examined how age affects heartwood proportion, color parameters, chemical composition, and natural teakwood durability. Trees with 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of fastgrowth at commercial plantations located in Mato Grosso, Brazil were evaluated. The base diameter of the trees ranged from 13.1 (5 years) to 28.3 cm (20 years), and the heartwood percentage increased from 16.3 to 60.0%, respectively. The color parameters in the CIELab system indicated that wood became darker and more saturated, and the predominance of yellow color decreased compared with red as age advanced. The total extractive content ranged between 7.4 (5 years) and 9.6% (15 years), without a clear trend of age affecting the extractive content. The extractives from five-year-old wood were mainly composed of tectoquinone (43.3%), phthalic acid (19.1%), and 1,3-indandione (9.2%), while those from 20-year-old wood were mainly composed of tectoquinone (60.7%), lapachol (13.8%), and phthalic acid (9.7%). Teakwood can be classified as resistant (5 years) to very resistant (20 years) after being submitted to an accelerated decay test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical species are widely used in construction, and their physical and mechanical properties have been important characteristics with direct impact on the design of structures, especially the strength and stiffness of wood applied in them. Tests to obtain both parameters are conducted under ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) guidelines in Brazil, being rarely found in some research centers because of the higher costs of testing equipment. For instance, the toughness test depends on equipment with a pendulum, whose device requires accuracy and maintenance for reliable analyses. This paper aims to estimate toughness through another property more easily found, given by the compression strength parallel to the grain. For this, 20 tropical wood species of the South American region were used to obtain initial values of these properties. The characteristic values of the compression strength parallel to the grain as well as linear and quadratic regression models were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed and confirmed that a linear model gave better predictions than a quadratic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood in marine environments requires protection against xylophagous, and to increase the effectiveness of the preservatives, it is first necessary to know environmental conditions and species of wood borers present. The durability of treated Pinus taeda wood against the attack of marine borers in different environments was investigated, with (1) burnt oil, by the hot-cold bath method; (2) paraffin, by the Bethell method; (3) superficial burning of the wood with oil application, known as shou sugi ban technique; and (4) impermeable rubber, with and without the addition of silica, by immersion. The experiment was adapted from the standard EN 275 (1992) and carried out in three areas, one located in a river and two in estuarine coastal areas of the Paranaguá Bay (Brazil). Based on the percentage of lost wood area, the treatment with impermeable rubber with the addition of silica showed the best performance at the local 1 site (26.3%). At the local 2 site, treatments with impermeable rubber with and without the addition of silica had the lowest percentages of loss, with mean values of 13.95 and 12.65%, respectively. The other treatments had losses above 30%, being classified as severe damage, meaning they are not suitable for this use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has a vast area of native forests with the potential to be sustainably exploited for application in civil construction. Density is a key factor when analysing the characteristics of different wood species and their future uses, and additionally it can be used as an estimator for other mechanical properties of wood. Furthermore, in a developing country like Brazil, carrying out various characterisation tests for different wood species is sometimes impossible because of the associated high costs. The Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 7190:1997, Design of Timber Structure, governs wood construction and timber structures in Brazil. However, this guideline lacks equations that link the majority of mechanical characteristics to density. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to propose regression models for estimating compressive strength perpendicular to grain, for 17 native species of Brazilian tropical wood, as a function of apparent density and the characteristic value of apparent density. From the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that all the regression models provided in this study were successful in estimating characteristic compressive strength perpendicular to grain (fc90,k), and that the model from Equation 3 in this work, a linear model with one independent variable, might be included in future revisions of ABNT NBR 7190:1997. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The torrefaction assays were carried out at temperatures of 240, 260, and 280 °C for 30 and 60 min to investigate the chlorine (Cl) behavior in Eucalyptus sp. from the region of Paraiba Valley, Brazil. The solid product obtained from the reactions — torrefied wood — was analyzed for mass loss, elemental analysis, calorific value, scanning electron microscopy, and chlorine content. The results showed that the mass loss ranged from 11.5 to 16.7% at the lowest temperatures tested, reaching 37.2% at 280 °C for 60 min. The samples torrefied at 260 and 280 °C for 60 min showed characteristics similar to lignite and peat, which have higher heating values. However, torrefied reactions of 30 min had better energy yields (97.6%). It is noteworthy that during torrefaction at 240 °C and 260 °C for 30 min, the chlorine reduction was 88 and 95% respectively, in relation to raw wood, resulting in concentrations of 30 and 13 mg kg−1 of chlorine in the torrefied samples, meeting the specification of the ENplus standard (< 200 mg kg−1). Thus, torrefaction is a pretreatment process for Eucalyptus sp. from Paraiba Valley, state of São Paulo (Brazil), to produce biofuel with low chlorine content, enabling its commercialization in the European market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has the world’s second largest forest area, which makes the exploitation and use of varied species in civil construction conducive. One of the traditional uses of wood is to build roofs for different purposes. Considering that the most recurrent pathologies in the roof structures are related to the excessive deformations observed in the structural elements, particularly in those subjected to bending. This study verified the effective representativeness of the stiffness value established by the Brazilian Class wood standard, C40. Batches of eight different tropical wood species were considered, whose framing occurred in the referred Class. Results obtained from the confidence intervals for each evaluated species led to the conclusion that the value of 19500 MPa for the modulus of elasticity is not representative for Class C40 because the value observed in this study was 14467 MPa, which is 26% lower than the normative reference. This observation is an initial indication that the adoption of the value of 19500 MPa by the standard is unfavorable to the safety of the structure, justifying the pathologies observed in the service performance of the roof structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to measure the carbonization action in four wood species with different densities formed by a variety with global utilization, eucalyptus grandis, and other three native species from Brazil, cupiuba, guapuruvu and morototoni. The analysis included the verification of damages from carbonization at high temperature as well as the influence of these covariates by the Bayesian Logistic Regression. The analysis verified the convergences from R-Hat diagnostic and Markov chains. Statistical model of temperature-species covariates was selected, since it presents the possibility of a more plausible explanation for the assessed data set. Eucalyptus grandis and guapuruvu wood species showed the greatest damage volumes caused by carbonization. Density was not a covariate that interfered, statistically, in this analysis of high temperature damages. Regarding wood species, the eucalyptus grandis differed significantly from the Bayesian model, both from cupiuba and morototoni woods. The detailed analysis evinced the efficient performance of the Bayesian model, which is an alternative option for studies about the carbonization of forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy potential of Astronium fraxinifolium and Enterolobium gummiferum wood species that grow in the Savannah of Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing on the production of charcoal. Two discs were removed at 1.30 m from the ground of three trees of each species, and these were later sampled into wedges that were applied in the analysis of wood characteristics and charcoal production in a muffle furnace. The extractives content and basic density of the wood species were determined, and apparent density of charcoal, ash content, heating value, and energy density of both materials were also determined. The woods under study have potential for application in energy production. Emphasis was placed on A. fraxinifolium, which presented wood and charcoal that was denser, had higher energy density, and achieved greater gravimetric yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal was to determine physical properties and anatomical features in 33-year-old Hevea brasiliensis clones. We cut wood samples from clones LCB510, RRIM600, IAN873, IAN717 and GT1 planted in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We used standard techniques in wood studies. We found that clones differ in basic density, volumetric shrinkage and anatomical features, with the exception of ray width. Basic density, volumetric shrinkage, fiber length, fiber wall thickness, vessel element length and vessel diameter tended to increase from pith to bark, while vessel frequency propended to decrease. We conclude that wood of the studied clones has potential for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Wood has been historically used to build traditional boats in Brazil. The present study examined different types of wood used in the boat collection of the Museu Nacional do Mar (Portuguese for National Museum of the Sea). Samples were collected with a Pressler borer and incorporated into the JOIw xylarium. Histological and anatomical descriptions followed usual wood anatomy protocols. Wood of 15 species of low, medium, and high density was microscopically identified. Most of the species are native to forests that surround the waterways where the boats were built, although some were imported from more distant forests. We believe the wood anatomy shows the relationship between human societies and forest resources used in navel carpentry. Additionally, wood surveys like this broaden our knowledge on the cultural heritage, ethnobotanic, and technological properties knowledge, which ultimately contribute to biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate herbicide treatment is essential to sustainable Eucalyptus plantation management in Brazil. Eucalyptus is highly sensitive to glyphosate, and Suzano/FuturaGene has genetically modified eucalyptus to tolerate glyphosate, with the aim of both protecting eucalyptus trees from glyphosate application damage and improving weed management. This study presents the biosafety results of the glyphosate-tolerant eucalyptus event 751K032, which expresses the selection marker neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) enzyme and CP4-EPSPS, a glyphosate-tolerant variant of plant 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate−3-phosphate synthase enzyme. The transgenic genetically modified (GM) event 751K032 behaved in the plantations like conventional non-transgenic eucalyptus clone, FGN-K, and had no effects on arthropods and soil microorganisms. The engineered NPTII and CP4 EPSPS proteins were heat-labile, readily digestible, and according to the bioinformatics analyses, unlikely to cause an allergenic or toxic reaction in humans or animals. This assessment of the biosafety of the glyphosate-tolerant eucalyptus event 751K032 concludes that it is safe to be used for wood production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of bioethanol from materials of renewable origin is an important matter for a more sustainable economic development, and at the same time it challenges researchers to seek more efficient technologies that can make it viable. Wood is a profitable and advantageous option, with special emphasis on eucalyptus, whose cultivation has high turnover in Brazil, where land is available for this purpose. Therefore, the goal of this research was to optimize the hydrolysis stage using acid instead of enzymes for the conversion of chips of Eucalyptus urograndis into bioethanol, with additional co-production of furfural and commercial lignin, in order to make the process more advantageous. To obtain bioethanol, a pre-treatment adapted from autohydrolysis was performed to remove the hemicelluloses, followed by soda pulping to remove the lignin and, finally, the acid hydrolysis of the β-(1→4) glycosidic bonds between the C1–C4 cellulose carbons releasing β-D-glucose monomers to be fermented into bioethanol. In the acid hydrolysis step, sulfuric acid of concentration 1127 gL−1 was used. After the experimental analyses performed, it could be observed that in acid hydrolysis, treatments using 70 mL and 80 mL of sulfuric acid did not differ statistically in relation to glucose production. However, by increasing the volume of acid to 90 mL, there was an increase in the production of fermentable sugars into bioethanol, 63.7 %, which began decreasing when adding acid above 93 mL, because the excess of acid also caused the degradation of sugars into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF); and in the treatment of 100 mL there was a higher production of HMF. The production of bioethanol proved to be competitive after the fermentation of the sample from the 90 mL treatment with a production of 103.7 L of bioethanol/ton of wood, in addition to being beneficial to the process as a whole with the co-production of furfural, 28.8 kg of furfural ton−1 of wood, and commercial lignin, 428.3 kg of lignin per ton of wood, precursors to various chemicals such as resins, coatings and inks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) in homogenous plantations and natural forests is widely studied, but there is a lack of information on wood from trees grown in agroforestry systems (AFSs). The objective of this work was to evaluate the wood quality of African mahogany produced in AFS. The wood was obtained from a multi-stratified AFS located in the State of Rondônia, Brazil. The contents of holocellulose (67.2%) and lignin (25.8%) of mahogany wood are comparable to those found in other tropical woods from the Amazon with high natural durability. The results found for the densities presented low variation, allowing to classify the African mahogany wood as of medium density (basic density around 520 kg m−3) and high dimensional stability (ie, anisotropy coefficient <1.3%). The results obtained for parallel-to-grain compression strength (26.5 MPa), static bending strength (56.0 MPa), shear strength (10.4 MPa), and Janka hardness parallel to the grain (3420.0 N), indicate that the mechanical performance was similar to wood from other African and South American mahogany species from monocultures and natural forests. Experimental results indicated that the wood produced in the AFS can be suitable for furniture, musical instruments, applications in external structures, residential floors, and vehicle bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat treatment has been used in wood to improve its technological properties, but due to the complex nature of wood, it is necessary to carry out analyses to confirm the changes, and also to investigate which temperatures and protocols are ideal to provide the desired effect. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the modulus of elasticity, in order to understand the mechanical behaviour of thermally modified wood, using the non-destructive technique of ultrasound. The subjects of study were the woods of Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. and Pinus elliottii Engelm. Heat treatments were carried out with temperatures of 160, 180 and 200 °C, for a period of 60 min. After the treatments, the dynamic modulus of elasticity was estimated by the non-destructive technique of ultrasound and the static modulus of elasticity was obtained using a universal testing machine. It was observed that the heat treatment provided an increase in the dynamic modulus of elasticity for both species. For P. elliottii wood, a high linear correlation was observed between the dynamic and static modulus of elasticity for (R2 = 0.87). For B. excelsa wood, a low correlation was observed (R2 = 0.31). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investments in mechanized wood harvesting operations are characterized by demanding capital and presenting uncertainties associated with productive and economic factors. The economic analysis based on the Monte Carlo method promotes accurate results by measuring the risks of these investments. Thus, we analyzed whether the mechanized wood harvesting operation consisting of self-propelled forest machines under conditions of uncertainty is economically viable, applying the Monte Carlo method for risk management. With the observance of wood harvesting in a forest planted with Eucalyptus, technical-economic coefficients were obtained for felling, extraction, and wood bundle processing operations. The time horizon was six years, with the application of the investment decision rules net present value, modified internal rate of return, and payback period discounted at the opportunity cost rate by the weighted average cost of capital. The results of the investment decision rules indicated the economic viability of the mechanized wood harvesting operation and, based on the stochastic simulation, it was possible to consider the investment as low risk for capital holders. Therefore, the mechanized wood harvesting operation consisting of self-propelled forest machines, under conditions of uncertainty, is economically viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Brazilian Amazon has the world's largest concentration of indigenous American peoples, but many environmental threats have affected the preservation of this enormous human ethnocultural heritage. This study identified the species and studied the different uses of wood by two indigenous ethnic groups in Southeastern Pará, Brazil, namely the "Gavião" and "Suruí". Ten taxa were identified, distributed in eight botanical families, with five being identified to genus and five to species levels. The wood of Bertholletia excelsa , an endangered forest species in Brazil, is important in the material culture of the Suruí indigenous people. The indigenous ethnic groups studied preferentially use medium density wood for building and high-density wood for hunting and warfare artefacts. The technological properties of wood justify its use by the indigenous peoples studied. We caution that the increasing environmental threats in Indigenous Lands within the Brazilian Amazon harm the preservation of the ethnocultural heritage of indigenous peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe anatomical characteristics of wood known as 'louros' from the Brazilian Amazon. The species is also known in Portuguese as preciosa, louro preto, louro pimenta, louro rosa, itauba, itauba amarela, louro branco and louro vermelho. Wood samples were collected in the extractivist communities of Paraíso and Arimum, located in the Verde Para Sempre Extractivist Reserve in Pará State, Brazil. All evaluated wood had diffuse porosity, simple perforate plate, alternate intervessel pits and non-storied rays. The anatomical characteristics indicated that louro branco had lower average ray frequency values (1.23), while preciosa, itauba and itauba amarela had higher mean ray frequency (6.70, 6.43 and 6.60), respectively. Samples of louro vermelho and louro branco had higher values for ray height (1994.36 and 5579.81) and width (511.21 and 506.40). Regarding vessel dimensions and frequency, itauba and itauba amarela had higher vessel frequency (11.43 and 11.83). Overall, strong uniformity of wood structure was observed at macroscopic and microscopic levels in the evaluated species. However, there were some slight differences. The anatomical characteristics, effective for discrimination, were axial parenchyma type, presence of septate fibres, type and grouping of vessels, presence of oil cells and starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a faster, reliable, and low cost technique, applicable to large samplings, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology has been widely applied for highthroughput phenotyping in forest breeding programmes. The aim of this study was to develop multivariate models for estimating the chemical and physical properties of juvenile wood based on NIR signatures of milled wood. Moreover, two approaches, namely, external validation by clone and by age, were tested to validate the model for estimating extractive content. NIR spectra of wood specimens taken from three clones of Eucalyptus urophylla (one to six years old) grown in southern Brazil were used to calibrate and validate models for predicting the wood basic density, total extractives, ash content, holocellulose content, syringyl to guaiacyl ratio (S/G) and elementary components of the wood. PLS-R models were validated by an independent set of wood specimens and presented promising statistics for the estimating wood density (R2p = 0.768), extractives (R2p = 0.912), ash (R2p = 0.936) and carbon (R2p = 0.697) contents from NIR signatures measured in the milled wood of young trees. Furthermore, NIR models for estimating the extractive content of wood were validated using the clones or ages left out of the training sets. Most models presented satisfactory statistics (R2 > 90%) and could be applied to routine laboratory analyses or to select potential trees in Eucalyptus breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hevea brasiliensis is a very prominent species in Brazil, but its wood is underused in high added value products. Based on this, the aim of this work was to evaluate the technical feasibility of veneer and plywood production of Hevea brasiliensis - Clone RRIM600 varying the weight and glue mixture solid content and the effects on its mechanical properties. Randomized trees were felled, and 2.0 mm thick veneers were obtained from these to produce phenolic plywood in the laboratory, with two different solid contents of the glue mixture: 35 and 40%, and three different glue weights: 140, 160 and 180 g/m2. The panels were pressed for 10 minutes at 140°C on 10 kg/cm2pressure. The laminate yield, basic density, and resistance of the glue line to shearing and static bending were evaluated. The lamination yield showed satisfactory results presenting 44.35%. The lower weight panels do not meet the minimum requirement of EN 314-2 and the others presented statistically similarl means. Thus, the use of 160 g/m² weight is recommended. The solid content of the glue mix influenced the mechanical properties, but the results were still higher than those obtained for Pinus taeda. The quality of the veneers and the yield of the lamination point to Hevea brasiliensis wood Clone RRIM 600 as having the potential to produce veneers, and the results of the physical-mechanical properties of the panels demonstrate the potential of the species in the plywood production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The activity of the mechanized extraction of wood, carried out by means of self-propelled forest machines, consists of moving the wood cut inside the forest stand from the planted forests to the roadside. During displacements, these machines normally travel over forest residues and stumps, which can demand greater motor power from the engine, in addition to the possible increase in occupational noise levels. In this context, we evaluated whether, when operating different self-propelled forest machines in the wood extraction of planted Eucalyptus forests, operators are exposed to different levels of occupational noise, especially to thresholds above those established for prevention purposes. Occupational noise data were collected during the workday, weighing six self-propelled forest machine operators who performed the wood-extraction operation, performed by two forwarders, two self-loading tractors, and two grapple skidders, in three areas with Eucalyptus plantations located in the southeastern region of Brazil. The sound-pressure level was collected using two integrative meters following the strategic measurement criterion recommendation for the whole day in the guidelines of the acoustic determination of occupational noise exposure and analyzed according to the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists. Operators of forest machines for the mechanized extraction of wood were exposed to occupational noise levels above the recommended level, which can affect health and well-being; this occupation also required above-average levels of attention during the execution of work activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The riparian zone is a dynamic ecosystem formed by the interaction of aquatic and terrestrial components of rivers and serves as a source of the large wood (LW). We aimed to understand the LW dynamics and the LW influence on river morphology, sediment distribution, and flow velocity within three reaches of a low-order stream. The study was performed in a segment (770 m in length) of the Perdizes stream, located in Aparados da Serra National Park, southern Brazil. We framed the study by focusing three issues: i) the processes explaining the LW dynamics in the Araucaria Forest biome; ii) the effects of LW on the flow velocity along the study reaches, and iii) the presence of LW affecting the sediment longitudinal connectivity. The methodology consisted of: (i) collection of hydrological data (rainfall, discharge, and streamflow velocity), (ii) Perdizes stream characterization by topo-bathymetric survey and river-flow simulation with HEC-RAS 5.0.7 1D. and (iii) detailed field surveys of LW and bed sediments. The LW descriptions were performed at four moments (July 10, 2019; November 19, 2019; July 24, 2020; and December 18, 2020). Abundant LW, mainly from araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze), was observed before meanders. A notable reduction in LW volume and an increased proportion of araucaria, compared to deciduous trees, were observed within the channel. Mass balance analysis indicated fluctuations in riparian vegetation biomass, emphasizing the connectivity between vegetation and the river. Streamflow velocity decreased in LW presence, from occurrence to the margin. Bed sediment diameters were consistently smaller in cross-sections with LW presence. The accumulation of smaller sediments with LW indicated partial downstream sediment disconnectivity. HEC-RAS simulations confirmed increased LW deposition in lower velocity zones. This understanding of fluvial dynamics contributes to effective natural environment management, especially in the Araucaria Forest context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Apple trees grown in warmer regions experience shallow dormancy. • Cold hardiness is different between cultivars and between cultivation sites. • The Eva cultivar does not present endodormancy and deep cold hardiness. • The maximum cold hardiness occurs after the peak of endodormancy. • Cold deacclimation is rapid and with high heterogeneity. In temperate fruit plants, climate is the main factor correlating changes in plant physiology, mainly those related to entry and exit from dormancy and cold hardiness. Acclimation to cold and its relationship with dormancy are still unknown in areas with a subtropical climate. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the dormancy dynamics and their interaction with the cold hardiness of different tissues of apple cultivars with different chilling requirements in two cultivation sites in a mild winter region in southern Brazil. The analyses were conducted from 2018 to 2022. The cultivars Gala, Fuji, and Eva were used in two environments with different altitudes. The dormancy dynamics were analyzed using the single-node cutting test, and the cold hardiness of the different tissues of each genotype was evaluated through electrolyte leakage in laboratory freezing tests. Cultivars Gala and Fuji had a greater depth of dormancy than Eva. Plants grown in orchards with higher chill accumulation had a greater depth of dormancy. Cold hardiness varied among cultivars, with the Eva cultivar having the lowest cold hardiness in mid-winter. The tissues (bud, bark, and wood) had different cold hardiness in early winter, with wood having the greatest cold hardiness, followed by bud and bark. As Eva did not go into deep dormancy, a superficial and short acclimation to cold was observed, in addition to rapid sprouting, even in winter. This condition predisposed it to cold damage to tissues in the pre-sprouting period. In this study, we found that maximum cold hardiness occurred after the end of the deep-endodormancy phase. Deacclimation of all cultivars occurred very quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic wood density (BWD) is a functional characteristic important to quantify carbon storage and is related to tree growth and its survival. We investigated BWD variability among tree species, populations, and forest types across the Atlantic Forest biome in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. We sampled and measured 576 trees of 83 species in 28 natural ecosystems in the Dense Ombrophilous Forest, Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest, and the Restinga Forest. Stem wood from two different heights at each tree was acquired using a drill borer; discs were removed from branches in 20% of the height from 39 trees. BWD means increased from 0.42 for the most humid ecosystem to 0.675 g⋅cm−3 from the driest ecosystem. We identified changes in the wood as a result of climatic variables particular to different typologies, such as increased wood density in areas with lower precipitation and higher temperatures, were also observed within species, but with little difference in means. We identified three groups of species according to their BWD, different in mean height and diameter. The branches can be used to estimate tree wood density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Workers in the wood processing industry perform activities that demand great physical and ergonomic demands, which favors the emergence of inflammatory processes and in turn the occurrence of heat regions in the body, thus making it possible to assess the inflammatory level by means of temperature gradients. This study aimed to evaluate the use of thermography as an ergonomic analysis tool to identify regions with musculoskeletal overload in workers in a wood processing industry. Methods. The study was conducted with nine workers in the central-west region of Brazil. The evaluations to obtain the thermographic images were carried out before the beginning of the workday, on Monday (day I) and on Friday (day II), in order to verify the overload regions in the accumulation of days worked. The thermal images were collected in an acclimatized room with controlled conditions where the participants remained with the upper part of their bodies bare for acclimatization, and then the lumbar and scapular regions were evaluated. The images were obtained using the FLUKE TI 400 Thermal Imager, with analysis using the SmartView software program to demarcate the body regions of interest. Results. The mean temperature values obtained on day I did not significantly differ from the mean values obtained on day II. Qualitative analysis showed thermal patterns with high temperature at the same points on both evaluated days. Although the thermographic analysis performed in this study cannot provide definitive results, they generally helped to provide evidence for a more accurate diagnosis in the evaluated workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cachaça is the distilled beverage typical of Brazil and can be subjected to the aging process in wooden barrels. In addition to oak barrels, cachaça is also aged in barrels of different Brazilian native woods, resulting in a wide variety of its sensory characteristics. In this work, 172 cachaças aged in bálsamo, jequitibá, oak, and umburana barrels were analyzed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and by the classification methods of principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Spectra were preprocessed by the first derivative by Savitzky–Golay smoothing, using a filter width and polynomial order determined through face‐centered central composite designs. Multivariate analysis was realized using the spectra recorded at different wavelength differences, and models were compared by the classification errors in the test sets. RESULTS: The principal component analysis applied to the synchronous fluorescence spectra presented a tendency of separation by the wood used in the aging process, and the partial least squares discriminant analysis model constructed using the fluorescence spectra recorded at a wavelength difference of 30 nm provided better performance parameters (efficiency 91–97%, sensitivity 81–100%, and specificity 91–100%). CONCLUSION: Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy offers a promising approach for the classification of cachaças aged in bálsamo, oak, jequitibá, and umburana barrels, and the discriminant model can be used for routine analysis as a screening method. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aimed to analyze plastic lumber manufacturing in Brazil, a country with a large amount of natural wood, and devise strategies to boost production. No studies were found on the development and application of plastic wood in a natural wood producing country that has been significantly affected by deforestation. Wood-plastic composite lumber was used in the present study. The methodology consisted of a bibliographic review, questionnaire, SWOT and TOWS analyses. The questionnaire was completed by plastic lumber manufacturers in order to better understand the positive and negative points of the plastic wood market and production. Information on environmental, economic and technical aspects was collected to support analyses. Brazil has 11 plastic lumber producers with a production capacity of 11 × 103 metric tons, a very small amount when compared to the natural wood market. Established companies are seeking to expand domestic and foreign markets for plastic lumber, which is largely composed of polyethylene with several lignocellulosic fibers, especially wood residue for civil construction applications. According to SWOT analysis, Brazil is developing plastic lumber with several strengths (opportunities). TOWS analysis showed that in order to boost plastic lumber production, make it more competitive and reach international markets, wood and plastic residue should be aimed at manufacturing WPC. Brazil produced around 37 × 106 metric tons of wood residue and discarded approximately 16 × 106 metric tons of plastic waste in landfills, materials that could potentially be used to produce plastic lumber. There are other raw material alternatives for plastic lumber production in the agricultural sector, such as straws and grain husks. However, the country urgently needs to develop a reverse a logistics network and residue collection, as well as conduct research to channel residues to plastic lumber production. Thus, there is a greater likelihood of continued development and, consequently, attracting new markets. There is an attempt to overcome weaknesses (plastic lumber is not used for structural applications), demonstrating the need for strategies that foster technical development for structural applications. Threats (high prices and lack of fiscal incentives) require coping strategies to increase production, thereby reducing its cost. These measures could increase plastic lumber production, making it competitive enough to replace natural wood, and lead to a decline in deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]