Search

Summary: Forests face many threats. While traditional breeding may be too slow to deliver well‐adapted trees, genomic selection (GS) can accelerate the process. We describe a comprehensive study of GS from proof of concept to operational application in western redcedar (WRC, Thuja plicata).Using genomic data, we developed models on a training population (TrP) of trees to predict breeding values (BVs) in a target seedling population (TaP) for growth, heartwood chemistry, and foliar chemistry traits. We used cross‐validation to assess prediction accuracy (PACC) in the TrP; we also validated models for early‐expressed foliar traits in the TaP.Prediction accuracy was high across generations, environments, and ages. PACC was not reduced to zero among unrelated individuals in TrP and was only slightly reduced in the TaP, confirming strong linkage disequilibrium and the ability of the model to generate accurate predictions across breeding generations. Genomic BV predictions were correlated with those from pedigree but displayed a wider range of within‐family variation due to the ability of GS to capture the Mendelian sampling term.Using predicted TaP BVs in multi‐trait selection, we functionally implemented and integrated GS into an operational tree‐breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus pinaster is a very important species for the Galician wood industry. A genetic breeding program was started in the 1980s to select plus trees based on growth and straightness. In this study, we estimated genetic parameters, juvenile-mature correlations and genetic gains in basic density (BD) and the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) in Galician breeding families, as well as their relation to volume, straightness, and tree slenderness. All traits were measured at a tree age of 12 years in three half-sib progeny trials. Wood quality traits were also measured at 24 years in two other trials. All progeny trials followed a randomized complete block design and the data were analyzed using several mixed-model approaches. The individual heritability of MOEd remained stable at both ages (~ 0.39) but decreased with age for BD (from 0.44 at age 12 to 0.24 at age 24). The high juvenile-mature correlations (0.51 for BD, 0.57 for MOEd) observed support the viability of early selection for both traits at 12 years. Both wood quality traits correlated positively with each other and weakly with volume, straightness and tree slenderness. Selecting a minimum number of the best families, based on volume or any wood quality trait, would generate genetic gains for the selecting trait and prevent genetic losses of non-selecting traits. We also identified specific families showing positive genetic gains for all traits. The research indicates that either or both of these wood quality traits could be included as new selection criteria in the Galician breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) is an important species for the W8banaki Nation, which uses its wood for traditional basketry. This study aimed to identify the wood properties required for black ash splints used in basketry. Eleven logs were selected and pounded into 26 longitudinal groups of annual wood layers, which were then transformed into splints. A quality class (high, medium, or low) was assigned by W8banakiak knowledge carriers to each group of rings. We measured wood density, ring width, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture on samples located at the same radial position in wood bolts collected adjacently to the logs used for pounding. To investigate which wood properties were best related to the assigned wood quality class, we applied a generalized linear mixed model. Our model revealed a significant effect of ring width and average ring density on the probability to obtain a given wood quality class. Narrow- to medium-sized rings and relatively dense wood offered the best quality for basketry practice. Based on our results, further research on the effects of growth conditions that favour the production of high-quality black ash wood could be conducted to ultimately propose silvicultural treatments and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in Eucalyptus wood density and chemical properties is crucial to understanding important factors for the forest-based industry, such as sampling methods and wood suitability as raw material. This study aimed to evaluate the basic density and chemical composition of the radial positions of young wood from the Eucalyptus urophylla clone grown under different precipitation levels. Trees from E. urophylla clonal plantations were collected in Inhambupe, Jandaíra and Itanagra, Bahia State, Brazil. Trees' basic density and chemical composition (total extractive, lignin, hemicelluloses and α-cellulose) were determined based on the basal log of each tree, at four radial positions (1, 2, 3 and 4). It was found that the basic density and α-cellulose of wood are influenced by the cambial age and the site rainfall. There was greater increase in sections close to the bark (positions 1 and 4) and in more humid environments (sites Itanagra and Jandaríra). This finding highlights the association between wood basic density and chemical composition, mainly in the holocellulose content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been adopted as a feasible technique to characterize tree stems while the characterization of trees' branching architecture has remained less explored. In general, branching architecture refers to the spatial arrangement of branches and their characteristics that are important when exploring the eco-physiological functioning of trees or assessing tree biomass and wood quality. Our aim was to develop a point cloud processing method for identifying and segmenting individual branches from TLS point clouds. We applied a Cartesian-to-cylinder coordinate transformation and a simple morphological filtering for stem surface reconstruction and stem-branch separation. Then branch origins were identified as their intersections with the stem surface, and individual branches were segmented based on their connectivity with the branch origins. The method, implemented in MATLAB and openly available, was validated on a 0.4-ha mature and managed southern boreal forest stand. The branch identification performance was assessed based on visual interpretation of 364 randomly sampled stem sections from 100 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.)) trees that were inspected for branch identification accuracy. The results showed that the branches could only be identified up to the height where the stem could be reconstructed. For 90% of the trees, this threshold ranged between 59.3% and 81.2% relative tree heights. Branches located below this threshold were identified with a recall of 75%, a precision of 92%, and an F1-score of 0.82. Based on our study, it appears that in a managed Scots pine stand, most of the branches can be identified with the developed method for the most valuable stem part eligible for logwood. The findings obtained in this study promote the feasibility of using TLS in applications requiring detailed characterization of trees. The developed method can be further used in quantifying the characteristics of individual branches, which could be useful for biomass and wood quality assessment, for example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood quality has been an ongoing concern for science, having become increasingly important in the current context, in which the demand for wood is increasing and forest fires are more frequent and violent. This study aims to evaluate the quality of wood in trees affected by fires and the negative impact of these phenomena on the speed of wood degradation, as a result of weakening the trees due to the action of stress factors. The study was carried out using modern techniques on beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) remaining in an area affected by a litter fire in 2017. Measurements were taken with the Arbotom Rinntech sound tomograph, the IML Resi F-500S resist graph, and the Pressler core sampler to observe the quality of the wood inside the trees. It was found that all the trees were in various stages of decay, the tomograms being able to characterize the severity of decay only in the case of fully decayed wood as a result of the action of xylophages fungi, whose harmful influence is more pronounced when the injuries sustained by the trees are higher. Although the trees attempted to close the fire wounds through their own defense mechanisms, the destructive action of the fungi intensified with time. After the forest fires, for an effective assessment of the wood's internal quality, the resist graph can be used. For valuable trees, one could use the tomograph, but the measurements have to be taken only by qualified operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the yield and quality of Teak wood from a Forest Industry Organization (FIO) plantation and a private teak plantation (PTP) in Thailand to provide guidelines for the sustainable utilization of teak wood. To quantify yields, we employed a randomized design at two locations (FIO and PTP), and determined volumetric proportions, the yields of milled teak and wood properties. We found that the whole lumber yield differed significantly (p≤0.05) between the two locations, although the yield of lumber sheets did not differ (p>0.05). While more teak wood was produced at the FIO plantation than the PTP, the sawing techniques used at the two locations resulted in no significant difference in wood yield. Wood drying had significantly different effects (p≤0.05) between the two locations, but the drying method did not differ (p>0.05). Overall, the lumber yields were greater for timber harvested from an FIO plantation than a PTP. Even though there are differences in sawing techniques adopted, the final lumber yield did not differ significantly between these two sources. The mechanical properties of teak wood improved with kiln drying, FIO plantation exhibits better properties than dried wood from the PTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pernambuco is the archetypal wood in modern bows of the violin-family. This species (Paubrasilia echinata) is endangered. Existing literature suggests remaining questions on how its properties' variability relates to qualification in bow-making, and to diversity. Here 61 pernambuco specimens, with various qualitative evaluations by makers, are characterised for physical, elastic, dynamic, and optical properties. Results are compared with standard relations between-properties, and with 53 pre-selected tropical hardwoods. The tested pernambuco stands in the medium-upper range of these pre-selected species for density (ρ) and modulus of elasticity (E). It is exceptional for its very low damping coefficient (tanδ) and very intense colour (red a*, yellow b* and chroma C*). Within-species variability is high. Qualification is mostly associated to ρ, colour hue angle h° and gloss, then to elasticity – but E and E/ρ (specific modulus) overlap between groups. Qualification involves appearance (L*, h°, gloss) when freshly cut, and with anticipation of changes after ageing or finishing. The properties (damping, chroma) that make pernambuco exceptional among species, are not clearly related to the qualification within the studied sampling. Analyses help better understand the specificities of pernambuco, and highlight the multifactorial nature of wood selection at two levels: between-species preference, and within-species qualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western redcedar has high economic value and has been traditionally used for cultural purposes by Indigenous communities. Second-growth redcedar is potentially growing faster due to lower planting densities, fertilization, and tree breeding. Little quantitative information is available about the impact of management practices on wood quality, particularly heartwood extractives. This study evaluated the effects of growth rate and site on heartwood extractives at two locations aged 70–90 years in British Columbia, Canada. A three-parameter sigmoid model was fit to the data using nonlinear mixed effects to analyze the relationship between heartwood extractives relative to cambial age, growth rate, and sampling site. The southern site had significantly higher cumulative extractive concentrations, while all extractive concentrations increased faster. This study shows that smaller trees will reach their peak concentrations earlier than larger trees. Results show that faster growth through active management of western redcedar may lead to increased and more uniformly distributed content of heartwood extractives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's forestry practices, integrated management is the prevailing approach. One method gaining traction is retention forestry, where certain trees, known as biotope trees providing microhabitats (TreMs), are preserved during harvesting operations. This article delves into hands-on training for marking interventions using marteloscope plots, focusing specifically on 'Pokojná hora,' a 1-hectare plot situated in the southeast of the Czech Republic. Field surveys were conducted using FieldMap technology, capturing essential data for all trees: coordinates, species, diameter, height, and health status. Additionally, details such as wood quality, economic value, microhabitats, and habitat value were documented for each tree. Forestry engineering students virtually mapped out interventions on the marteloscope plot, testing 11 solution variants across 2 scenarios to strike a balance between economic goals and biodiversity conservation. The plot hosts 155 microsites, predominantly on Fagus sylvatica (common beech) with 108 microsites. The likelihood of TreMs increases with tree diameter, while the correlation between a tree's economic value and its diameter was confirmed. Optimal management suggests maintaining 10 habitat trees per ha to reconcile economic and ecological objectives during harvesting operations. In essence, we contend that the adoption of retention forestry practices coupled with marteloscope training can play a pivotal role in arresting biodiversity decline within forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to improve the effectiveness of silvicultural production of structural sawn timber from softwoods. It intends to explore prediction methods for mechanical timber quality. The study material was obtained from six stands divided into age groups of approximately 40- and 80-year-old trees (examining the influence of age). The stands were differentiated by their applied thinning system of thinning from below or above (examining the influence of the thinning system). Resulting from these different levels of data, i.e., stand parameters, tree anatomy, and visual board properties are examined and analyzed in ordinal logistic models and linear mixed models. Visual board properties were discerned by means of the German standard for visual grading of sawn timber. The mechanical board properties were measured in on-edge bending strength tests and allocated into strength classes, which were modeled in dependence of visual characteristics and forestry conditions. The evaluation of mechanical properties attributed a significant loss of timber quality to short rotation periods, non-ideal water supply, and a single-tree management system. The prediction capabilities of models based on site and tree characteristics were on par with the accuracy of visual grading. Management adaptations by intense thinning from above can lead to a significant decline in Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) timber quality when site factors coincide. Particular care should be taken in the management of locations with high yield potential. Non-destructive evaluation based on site characteristics combined with terrestrial laser scan data of tree characteristics has potential as a pregrading method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual increase of the demand for wooden products, people's requirements for processing quality of wooden products become higher. In this work, the dimension of groove micro‐texture is determined by finite element simulation analysis of tool structure strength. In this article, by designing milling experiments, the wood surface quality and wood surface morphology after milling with ordinary tools, micro‐textured tools, coated tools and micro‐textured coated tools are compared. The experimental results show that the quality of wood surface after milling with micro‐texture coating tool is better than that of the other three kinds of tools. And the wood surface after milling with micro‐texture coating tool is smooth, and the processing defects, such as burr and crack are less. In other words, micro‐texture technology combined with surface coating technology can effectively improve the surface quality of wood after milling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural regeneration can reduce costs compared with replanting. However, its use requires knowledge about how either active or passive management will affect the balance between quality and quantity in the timber supply. This study aimed to quantify the effects of respacing on volume recovery and wood properties. Two British forest experiments using Picea sitchensis with various respacing distances and an un-respaced control were assessed 21–22 years after the treatments were applied. Tree dimensions were measured and used to quantify slenderness, merchantable volume, and sawlog volume. Wood properties were assessed on a sub-sample using mechanical testing. Generalised linear mixed models were used to examine differences between treatments and sites. Respacing decreased slenderness and increased relative sawlog volume and branch size. Wider respacing reduced wood strength and the widest respacing reduced wood stiffness. Respacing did not affect wood density. However, at the relatively low productivity sites considered here, respacing to 2.1 m represented the best compromise for current markets. In summary, not respacing improved some wood properties but reduced tree stability and the proportion and volume of sawlogs, which will negatively affect forest value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the mechanical properties of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir (Abies alba) wood from Bosnia and Herzegovina under outdoor exposure. Samples were exposed for 3-month exposure to assess bending strength, color changes, and surface quality. Results showed outdoor exposure negatively affected mechanical properties, particularly in samples with extended finger joints, causing significant surface cracks in uncoated samples. Beech wood exhibited notable color changes under exposure, with approximately 50% darkening without coating compared to 25% under covered conditions. Coated samples displayed minimal color changes, affirming the efficacy of surface treatment. Fir wood exhibited a roughness of 8.264 μm, while beechwood average roughness increased from 6.767 to 13.916 μm after exposure, with micro-pore development affecting water performance. Microscopic analysis identified prevalent fungal colonies, including Penicillium, Aureobasidium, Sclerophoma, and Chaetomium, underscoring their role in organic matter decomposition. This study highlights the importance of wood exposure and treatment selection for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) represents one of the most important commercial coniferous tree species, providing valuable timber. Due to climate change, it is experiencing serious problems in some areas, therefore, finding a suitable substitute for its wood is currently a challenge. In this study, we compared the wood quality of three different non-native pine species and Scots pine growing at the same site to ensure identical growing conditions. Black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold), a pine species native to Southern Europe, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson) native to North America were compared to Scots pine for selected quantitative (productivity) and qualitative (physical and mechanical) properties. Significant differences between pine species were found in all quantitative dendrometric parameters, except average diameter at breast height. The stand volume ranged from 157 m3 ha−1 for lodgepole pine to 356 m3 ha−1 for Scots pine. For qualitative characteristics, wood density, shrinkage, and compressive strength were used to find differences among species in choosing the best alternative. The highest wood density was obtained for Scots pine (458 kg m−3), followed by black pine with 441 kg m−3. The density of the remaining pine species was significantly lower. Scots pine also exceeded the tested species in compressive strength (44.2 MPa). Lodgepole pine achieved the second highest value (39.3 MPa) but was statistically similar to black pine (36.5 MPa). The tested pine species exhibited similar values in shrinkage, which were statistically insignificant, ranging from 14.3% for lodgepole pine to 15.1% for Scots pine. Based on applications and preferred characteristics, black pine or lodgepole pine could serve as the Scots pine substitute in some areas. And vice versa, ponderosa pine did not attain the Scots pine wood quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castanopsis hystrix, a precious tree species in Southeast Asia, has the advantages of rapid growth and high-quality wood materials. However, there are problems such as its long breeding cycle and low efficiency, and being time-consuming, which greatly restricts the industrial development of C. hystrix. Performing genome selection (GS) for growth and wood traits for the early selection of superior progeny has great significance for the rapid breeding of new superior varieties of C. hystrix. We used 226 clones in the main distribution and 479 progenies within 23 half-sib families as experimental materials in this study. Genotyping datasets were obtained by high-throughput re-sequencing technology, and GS studies were conducted on the growth (tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH)) and wood (wood density (WD), fiber length (FL), and fiber length–width ratio (LWR)) traits. The coefficient of variation (CV) of five phenotypic traits ranged from 10.1% to 22.73%, the average CV of growth traits was 19.93%, and the average CV of wood traits was 9.72%. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the five traits were almost all significantly positive. Based on the Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) model, the broad-sense heritabilities of growth traits were higher than those of wood quality traits, and the different number of SNPs had little effect on the heritability estimation. GS prediction accuracy first increased and then reached a plateau at around 3K SNPs for all five traits. The broad-sense heritability of these five traits was significantly positively correlated with their GS predictive ability (r = 0.564, p < 0.001). Bayes models had better GS prediction accuracy than the GBLUP model. The 15 excellent progeny individuals were selected, and their genetic gain ranged from 0.319% to 2.671%. These 15 superior offspring individuals were 4388, 4438, 4407, 4468, 4044, 4335, 4410, 4160, 4212, 4461, 4052, 4014, 4332, 4389, and 4007, mainly from three families F5, F6, and F11. Our research lays out the technical and material foundation for the rapid breeding of new superior varieties of C. hystrix in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce defects in wood laser processing, this study establishes a multi-field coupling model that reflects the coupling relationship between laser energy, auxiliary gas, and slit quality. It reveals the temperature field distribution and heat transfer during this process at a macroscopic level. Using the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software to simulate laser processing with or without helium gas assistance, we show that helium-assisted laser processing positively affects the quality of wood processing. We further researched the influence of different laser powers and spot radii on ablation damage volume and gasification volume, and the results indicate that the adopted model effectively simulates the influence of laser power and auxiliary gas on laser cutting ability, accurately reflecting the impact of different process parameters on cutting depth and kerf width. The accuracy and effectiveness of this model were validated through comparison with experimental data. This research enhances process reliability and economic benefits through numerical simulation and prediction, expands theoretical research and engineering applications in the laser processing field, and optimizes and innovates wood processing technology. It provides a promising method for enhancing the added value of wood products and efficiently using wood resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the yield and quality of Teak wood from a Forest Industry Organization (FIO) plantation and a private teak plantation (PTP) in Thailand to provide guidelines for the sustainable utilization of teak wood. To quantify yields, we employed a randomized design at two locations (FIO and PTP), and determined volumetric proportions, the yields of milled teak and wood properties. We found that the whole lumber yield differed significantly (p≤0.05) between the two locations, although the yield of lumber sheets did not differ (p>0.05). While more teak wood was produced at the FIO plantation than the PTP, the sawing techniques used at the two locations resulted in no significant difference in wood yield. Wood drying had significantly different effects (p≤0.05) between the two locations, but the drying method did not differ (p>0.05). Overall, the lumber yields were greater for timber harvested from an FIO plantation than a PTP. Even though there are differences in sawing techniques adopted, the final lumber yield did not differ significantly between these two sources. The mechanical properties of teak wood improved with kiln drying, FIO plantation exhibits better properties than dried wood from the PTP.

Copyright of Ciência Florestal (01039954) is the property of Ciencia Florestal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accurate detection of wood surface defects plays a pivotal role in enhancing wood grade sorting precision, maintaining high standards in wood processing quality, and safeguarding forest resources. This paper introduces an efficient and precise approach to detecting wood surface defects, building upon enhancements to the YOLOv8 model, which demonstrates significant performance enhancements in handling multi-scale and small-target defects commonly found in wood. The proposed method incorporates the dilation-wise residual (DWR) module in the trunk and the deformable large kernel attention (DLKA) module in the neck of the YOLOv8 architecture to enhance the network's capability in extracting and fusing multi-scale defective features. To further improve the detection accuracy of small-target defects, the model replaces all the detector heads of YOLOv8 with dynamic heads and adds an additional small-target dynamic detector head in the shallower layers. Additionally, to facilitate faster and more-efficient regression, the original complete intersection over union (CIoU) loss function of YOLOv8 is replaced with the IoU with minimum points distance (MPDIoU) loss function. Experimental results indicate that compared with the YOLOv8n baseline model, the proposed method improves the mean average precision (mAP) by 5.5%, with enhanced detection accuracy across all seven defect types tested. These findings suggest that the proposed model exhibits a superior ability to detect wood surface defects accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of wood defect is a crucial step in wood processing and manufacturing, determining the quality and reliability of wood products. To achieve accurate wood defect detection, a novel method named BPN-YOLO is proposed. The ordinary convolution in the ELAN module of the YOLOv7 backbone network is replaced with Pconv partial convolution, resulting in the P-ELAN module. Wood defect detection performance is improved by this modification while unnecessary redundant computations and memory accesses are reduced. Additionally, the Biformer attention mechanism is introduced to achieve more flexible computation allocation and content awareness. The IOU loss function is replaced with the NWD loss function, addressing the sensitivity of the IOU loss function to small defect location fluctuations. The BPN-YOLO model has been rigorously evaluated using an optimized wood defect dataset, and ablation and comparison experiments have been performed. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) of BPN-YOLO is improved by 7.4% relative to the original algorithm, which can better meet the need to accurately detecting surface defects on wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees in breeding programmes are often selected at 1/4–1/3 of rotation, called 'early selection', which is typically between 8 and 10 years in radiata pine. However, differences between populations and genotypes selected for either basic density or wood stiffness are already apparent at age 2. We report the application of very early screening techniques for wood properties in the New Zealand Radiata Pine Breeding Programme deployment populations. Approximately 3000 trees representing three populations with 92 families and 10 clones were grown in a common garden trial, leaning for 21 months to separate compression and opposite wood. The trees were harvested and analysis carried out separately by wood type. The trial showed the existence of large variability in wood properties at early age, in some cases similar to variability near rotation age, and moderate to high degree of genetic control ( 0.35 ≤ h 2 ≤ 0.71 ). The genetic association between traits was strong, particularly between wood stiffness and longitudinal shrinkage ( - 0.69 ) and between longitudinal and volumetric shrinkage (0.83), suggesting that improving stiffness would also have a strong effect on improving dimensional stability. Basic density was also associated with stiffness and shrinkage, but with lower predictive capacity. These results can be used for roguing deployment populations-which already contain superior growing trees-and quickly upgrade the wood quality of seeds and clones currently available to New Zealand forest growers. We discuss necessary modifications to turn this research work into operation to screen any new material before commercial release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) The early assessment of wood quality, even while trees are standing, provides significant benefits for forest management, sales efficiency, and market diversification. Its definition cannot be in absolute terms but must always be linked to the material's intended use. (2) In this contribution, a review of the scientific literature is given to discuss the visually evaluable attributes that define wood quality in standing trees, the applicability of the techniques used for their assessment, and the effectiveness of these attributes and technologies in predicting quality, to finally highlight future research needs. (3) The visual characteristics generally used to evaluate wood quality are linked to stem form and dimension, branchiness, and stem damage, but their assessment is challenging due to time and resource constraints. To address these challenges, laser-based and image-based techniques have been applied in field surveys. (4) Laser scanners offer detailed and accurate measurements. Photogrammetry, utilizing images to reconstruct 3D models, provides a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these tools in surveying the visible properties of stems and branches, but further development is necessary for widespread application, particularly in software development, with faster and more effective algorithmic advancements for automatic recognition and subsequent measurement of pertinent characteristics being critical for enhancing tool usability. (5) However, predicting wood quality from these surveys remains challenging, with a limited correlation between the visible tree characteristics assessed and the sawn product quality. Empirical studies evaluating products downstream in the forest-wood supply chain could provide valuable insights. In this sense, the implementation of traceability systems could facilitate the linkage between data on standing trees and the quality of the sawn product. Also, further research is needed to develop models that can accurately predict internal tree characteristics and their impact on product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-effective, non-destructive means of estimating wood properties of eucalypts grown in Guangxi, China, were evaluated using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and resistance drilling. For this evaluation, wood samples for NIR analysis and resistance drill measurements were collected from 581 trees, representing eight plantation Eucalyptus taxa across five sites. The near infra-red (NIR) spectra collected from the 581 wood samples were analysed using existing calibrations for kraft pulp yield, cellulose content, hot water extractives and Klason lignin. These spectra and calibrations were effective in predicting over 60% of the variance in total carbohydrates and over 80% of the extractives and lignin values from independent laboratory analysis of a subset of 100 samples. Resistance drilling combined with software developed for processing the drill data proved to be a quick, low cost and effective means of quantifying wood density (as amplitude of the drill torque), stem diameter and bark thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores attitudes toward sustainable-timber resource management and climate-change mitigation by extending the life cycles of wood products and their cascading in Central and Southeastern Europe. A comprehensive survey involving the general public and professional organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, reveals significant support for wood product reuse in construction, emphasizing ecological aspects and sustainability. Despite doubts about wood product quality, motivation for reuse remains high. Challenges, including limited availability and cost, are acknowledged. Reusing and recycling wood products at the end of their life cycle can extend the life of the wood resource and reduce carbon emissions. Cascading is a promising way to combat climate change and prolong the life cycle of wood products. This study highlights the potential of cascading wood use, underscores the necessity to improve the quantification of wood usage through material intensity analysis of buildings, and emphasizes the requirement for more comprehensive education and explanations to promote sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus patula Schiede ex Schltdl. et Cham. is endemic to Mexico and is used in both reforestation programs and in the timber industry due to its fast growth, wood quality, and easy handling. With the advance in genetic breeding programs, there is a need to massively propagate new plants from cuttings. One of the main challenges for this purpose is to know the effect of the age of the mother plant (hedge) on the rooting of cuttings. The younger the plant, the greater the rooting is expected to be. Three ontological ages of P. patula mother plants were compared (7, 10, and 13 months). The experimental design was in complete random blocks, with four replications and 25 cuttings per experimental unit. The response variables were evaluated 20 weeks after the experiment was established. No significant differences were observed in the rooting of the three ages evaluated (67.3 to 81 %), nor in the quality of the root (number and length of primary roots, percentage of plants with secondary roots). The results point out an advantage for the propagation of Pinus cuttings since the mother plants at those ages are capable of generating juvenile cuttings that are adequate to obtain percentages of rooting of over 75 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane emulsification technology has garnered increasing interest in emulsion preparation due to controllable droplet size, narrower droplet size distribution, low energy consumption, simple process design and excellent reproducibility. Nevertheless, the pore structure and surface engineering in membrane materials design play a crucial role in achieving high-quality emulsions with high throughput simultaneously. In this work, an oriented interpenetrating capillary network composed of highly aligned and interconnected wood cell lumens has been utilized to fabricate an emulsion membrane. A novel honeycomb porous ZnO layer obtained by a seed prefabrication–hydrothermal growth method was designed to reconstruct wood channel surfaces for enhanced microfluid mixing. The results show that through the unique capillary mesh microstructure of wood, the emulsion droplets were smaller in size, had narrower pore-size distribution, and were easy to obtain under high throughput conditions. Meanwhile, a well-designed ZnO layer could further improve the emulsion quality of a wood membrane, while the emulsifying throughput is still maintained at a higher level. This demonstrates that the convection process of the microfluid in these wood capillary channels was intensified markedly. This study not only develops advanced membrane materials in emulsion preparation, but also introduces a brand-new field for functional applications of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently no quality sorting of harvested hardwood timber in Norway on a national scale. Medium- and high-quality logs including those from birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh., B. pendula Roth) are thus not utilized according to their potential monetary value. Increased domestic utilization of quality birch timber requires that the quality of harvested logs be properly assessed for potential end uses. A preferred sorting procedure would use visually detectable external log defects to grade roundwood timber. Knots are an important feature of inner log quality. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether correlations between branch scar size and knot features could be found in Norwegian birch. Using 168 knots from seven unpruned birch trees, external bark attributes often showed strong correlations with internal wood quality. Both length of the mustache and length of the seal performed well as predictors of stem radius at the time of knot occlusion. The presence of a broken off branch stub as part of an occluded knot significantly increased the knot-effected stem radius, proving that the practice of removing branches and branch stubs along the lower trunk is a crucial measure if quality timber production is the primary management goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios is the property of Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

Forest plantations can be established in order to restore degraded areas. Acoustic tomography, which is of increasing importance in forest management, was used in the present study to obtain information for managing plantations of Cedrelinga cateniformis Ducke in the Peruvian Amazon. The species is valuable in the timber sector of Peru, but the core wood tends to deteriorate and develop cavities. The main objective of the study was to model wood deterioration in Cedrelinga cateniformis Ducke using the data obtained through acoustic tomography. Eight plantations of varying ages were analyzed using acoustic tomography in order to obtain indicators of wood deterioration. Biometric, climatic, and edaphic data (explanatory variables) were also measured in each plantation. The indicator variables and explanatory variables were compared and evaluated using correlation and principal component analysis. Wood deterioration was modelled using stepwise regression. The indicator variables differed significantly between plantations and were mainly correlated with the biometric variables (age and diameter at breast height). The models explained 81% of the variability of pith rot. The percentage rotten area was minimal in young plantations (1%), and the opposite was observed in mature trees (21.5 to 25.6%). The study findings provide valuable information, enabling foresters to determine the optimal age and diameter for felling Cedrelinga cateniformis in plantations in the Peruvian Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot caused by Heterobasidion spp. is the most serious fungal disease of conifer forests in the Northern Hemisphere. In Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands infected by H. annosum, root rot reduces sawlog quality due to decay and resin-soaked patches. Automatically detecting the disease during harvesting operations could be used to optimize bucking as well as to efficiently collect data on root-rot incidence within forest stands and at larger geographical scales. In this study, we develop deep learning models based on convolutional neural networks to automatically detect root rot disease and the presence of resinous wood in stem end images of Scots pine. In addition, we study the effect of pre-filtering the images via a classical texture operator prior to model development. Using transfer learning on pre-trained feature extractor networks, we first construct classifiers for detecting severely rotten wood in stem end images. Second, we develop a classifier for detecting the presence of resin outside branch knots. In rot detection, using regular RGB images, our final model reaches a binary classification accuracy of (63 ± 6)% on the independent test data, where the error is the standard error. Pre-processing the images using the classical texture operator increases the final classification accuracy to (70 ± 6)%. To detect only resin using regular RGB images, we find an accuracy of (80 ± 6)%. Finally, we discuss the operational implications and requirements of implementing such computer vision algorithms in the next generation of forest harvesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to optimizing furniture design processes and facilitating wood identification through the development of a mobile application. The application is designed to provide users with intuitive tools and resources for informed decisionmaking in furniture design and wood selection. The first component of the mobile application focuses on optimizing furniture design through furniture size and quality consideration. This encompasses the creation of an intuitive user interface that enables users to specify their furniture design preferences, including material selection criteria. A comprehensive wood database is meticulously curated, furnishing users with comprehensive details on wood sizes, qualities, and thicknesses, thereby aiding in material selection and waste reduction initiatives. Algorithms are employed to recommend optimal wood sizes, considering factors such as material selection, waste reduction, and cost analysis. Visual representation tools are included, allowing users to preview furniture designs with different wood options, facilitating informed decisionmaking. Furthermore, feedback mechanisms have been integrated to enable users to provide feedback on recommended wood sizes and qualities, thereby facilitating continuous enhancement and refinement of recommendations. The second component aims to identify the type of wood by its appearance. Image processing features have been developed to precisely extract visual characteristics from wood sample images, thereby aiding in the identification of wood species. Machine learning models are trained to classify wood species based on visual characteristics obtained from images, thereby enhancing the precision of identification. User interaction tools have been designed to ensure ease of use and accessibility for users in capturing and submitting wood sample images. Within the application, educational resources and materials are provided to help users learn about different wood species, aiding their understanding and selection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In asexual seed orchards, genetically improved seed is obtained to produce plants destined for forest plantation programs, which will help increase wood quality and productivity, and reduce cutting cycles. However, asexual seed orchards established in Mexico are not functional and many aspects of their reproductive characteristics remain unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival, height increase, and vegetative and production (presence) of strobili in juvenile ramets from an asexual seed orchard of Pinus patula owing to the effect of the geographical origin of the ortets. The response variables were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, and when significant differences existed (P < 0.05), Tukey's mean test was used. Furthermore, using the Pearson test, the correlation between the characteristics evaluated and the bioclimatic variables of the origin of the ortets was determined. Statistical differences were found in survival due to the geographical origin of the ortets and the cloned tree, but not in the other variables. The highest survival was found in ramets with scions from ortets of Tlahuiltepa, Hidalgo and Ahuazotepec, Puebla, both with 94 %. The best clones were: 19 and 20 (Ahuazotepec) and 75 (Agua Blanca, Hidalgo) with 100 % survival. A correlation was observed between vegetative phenology and presence of female strobili with 11 bioclimatic variables. It was concluded that the survival, phenology and production of female strobili of P. patula ramets are influenced by their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical modification is an efficient strategy for improving wood quality; however, for some fast-grown wood species unwanted shrinkage occur upon treatment with alkaline solution. This study was devised to reveal the shrinkage behavior of poplar and radiata pine woods treated with 5, 10, 15 and 20 % alkaline sodium silicate (SS) solutions. Wood treated with sodium hydroxide (SH) solution adjusting to the same pH as the specific SS solution was used as a reference sample. The weight loss, chemical components analysis, and confocal microscopy revealed that treatments with SS caused considerable reductions in hemicellulose and acid-insoluble lignin (AIL) of poplar wood up to 51 % and 21 %, respectively. In contrast, such reductions of the SS-treated radiata pine wood were only 13 % and 2 %, respectively. Consequently, shrinkage of poplar wood in the tangential- and radial-directions reached up to 22 % and 11 % respectively. However, such shrinkage for radiata pine was less than 2 % in either direction. The crystallinity index of poplar and radiata pine woods after treatment increased up to 35.3 % and 4.8 %, respectively, attributable to removal of the amorphous fraction. The scanning electron microscopy displayed that treatments had minor effect on the cell structure of radiata pine, but brought about significant collapse of poplar cells. The above results show that radiata pine is more chemically stable to alkaline treatment than poplar. [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]

Approximately 12% of China's papermaking raw materials are derived from wood, while the majority are sourced from branches. Styrax tonkinensis is a more desirable species for pulpwood in subtropical ultra-short rotations, whose branches are prone to breakage. Lignin has a significant impact on wood quality and pulping yield, and the growth process influences lignin biosynthesis. To explore the lignin biosynthesis pathway in S. tonkinensis, we determined the lignin content in the current-year and biennial branches on 20 July, 20 September, and 20 October and analyzed the transcriptome sequencing results. It was concluded that the lignin content showed an increasing trend in the current-year branches (182.26, 206.17, and 213.47 mg/g, respectively), while that in the biennial branches showed a decrease in the samples taken in October, without significant difference (221.77, 264.43, and 261.83 mg/g, respectively). The transcriptome sequencing results showed that 91,513 unigenes were spliced with a total length of 92,961,618 bp. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Our study suggested that CCoAOMT, COMT, peroxidase, and F5H may serve as key enzymes regulating lignin synthesis in branches of S. tonkinensis, thereby influencing the lignin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IML PD series Resi is a device used to assess the drilling resistance of wood. The IML PD series Resi instrument is being widely adopted for commercial wood quality assessment due to its speed, cost-effectiveness, and precision when combined with web-based trace processing. Collecting Resi data with fixed feed speed and RPM settings is challenging due to inherent basic density variations within and between tree species. Altering these settings affects the drilling resistance amplitude of the Resi data, impacting basic density predictions. This study introduces the concept of chip thickness to combine feed speed and RPM into a single parameter to minimise the effects of different sampling conditions on the basic density predictions. Regression models, with chip thickness as the regressor variable, account for 97% to 99% of variance in mean Resi outerwood amplitude across six species. The demonstrated adaptability of chip thickness for adjusting feed speed and RPM settings, along with species-specific functions correlating it with Resi amplitude, holds promise for standardizing amplitude values across diverse feed speeds and RPM settings. Optimal sampling conditions needed to predict basic density lie within the 30%–40% amplitude range. To drill a ~30 cm diameter tree, the recommended fastest settings were 200 cm/min and 3500 RPM for Southern Pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Engelm) × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Sénéclauze)) and Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata (D. Don.)), 200 cm/min and 2500 RPM for Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii (Mudie)), 50 cm/min and 5000 RPM for Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (F. Muell.)), 200 cm/min and 4500 RPM for White Cypress (Callitris glaucophylla (Thompson & Johnson)), and 150 cm/min and 3500 RPM for Shining Gum (Eucalyptus nitens (H. Deane & Maiden) Maiden) based on the billets sampled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nativa is the property of Revista Nativa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research conducted on kraft cooking of for different chip sizes is often not representative for the industrial process since the chip size fractions were made of high-quality wood without impurities. We evaluated the effects and the potential of cooking non ideal spruce chip fractions after industrial chipping and screening. The chips were classified according to SCAN 40:01, and the respective fractions were cooked under the identical conditions to mimic the effect of a joint cooking in the industrial digester. For the undersized chips we found higher bark content, a lower screened yield, a higher Kappa number, lower fiber length and lower tensile strength. For the oversized chips, the fiber length and tensile index were also considerably lower. A lower wood quality due to high knot content in the larger fractions was found to be the reason for that. Based on the data obtained from the experiments and literature, different process options for increased yield and reduced chemical consumption are discussed, e.g., separate cooking of different chip fractions. Improved chip screening seems to be the process improvement with lowest costs and highest impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific information on the ash quality of Tachigalis vulgaris wood may reveal nutrient export mechanisms in energy forests and also insights into the wood quality for thermochemical conversions. This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient export and technological implications of ashes in the combustion of T. vulgaris grown in different planting spacings (4.5 m2;6.0 m2; 7.5 m2; 9 m2; 10.5 m2; 12.0 m2). The levels of inorganic elements were determined for 7-year-old trees cultivated in experimental plantations across the eastern Amazonia region. The element contents were used to obtain the export of nutrients and to calculate the fouling index (FI), basic to acidic compound ratio (B/A), sintering index (SI), slag viscosity index (SR), bed agglomeration index (BAI), and alkali index (AI). The most exported nutrients were Ca (18.7 kg/ha), P (13.9 kg/ha), and K (6.6 kg/ha). The FI, B/A, SI, and SR indices suggested deposition problems in the boilers for all planting spacings. However, BAI and AI indicated a low propensity to form fouling and slag. The spacing significantly influenced the P export. Planting spacing of 12 m2 demands increased P fertilization to maintain plantation productivity. The low ratio between alkaline earth and alkaline elements and high P2O5 values in the ash of T. vulgaris are disadvantageous. However, the high Al2O3 level and low ash content may contribute to the increase in the melting temperature of the ash. The study revealed that Tachigali vulgaris is a suitable species for wood production in energy forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the perspectives and practices of architects regarding the reuse of wood in construction across five South–Central European countries: Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Montenegro. Based on a survey of architectural professionals, this research explores their attitudes, challenges, and motivations for using reclaimed wood, with a focus on circular construction principles. Key findings reveal unanimous agreement among respondents that both their profession and government entities inadequately support or promote wood reuse within the context of circular construction. While architects value reclaimed wood, there are country-specific variations. Environmental benefits, unique aesthetics, historical value, and sustainability are cited as primary motivators for reclaimed wood use. Additionally, respondents emphasize the ecological aspect as the most important consideration in wood product reuse, followed by economic and technological factors. Common concerns revolve around the long-term quality and maintenance of wood products. This research provides insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding reclaimed wood use in South–Central Europe, highlighting the need for support mechanisms and increased awareness to advance circular construction practices in the region. These findings can have implications for architects and investors by identifying market opportunities, promoting eco-friendly practices, and providing valuable insights for future building designs with a focus on reclaimed wood elements within circular construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In any forest stand, the theoretically modelled output of sawlogs (the most valuable roundwood assortments) will differ from what is actually obtained. The aim of this study was to assess whether it is possible to characterise this difference by site properties or forest inventory parameters for birch, black alder, and aspen. We compared theoretically modelled sawlog recovery with actual recovery according to harvester data from final fellings. The difference between the theoretically modelled and actually recovered sawlog outcomes varied from −24.32 to −60.96 percentage points, with overestimations reaching up to three times for aspen. The differences in yield of sawlogs varied among soil types and increased with age and the average diameter of a tree. The sawlog recovery was underestimated up to the mean diameter at breast height of 16 cm and age of 20 years while being overestimated for larger and older trees. The results highlight the necessity to consider decreasing wood quality with increasing age to account for decay, such as stem rot, in assortment tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European forests are facing ongoing climate change, and certain tree species are being critically impacted. The Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is one of the most sensitive species to climate fluctuations, a fact manifesting itself through massive dieback resulting in a lack of high-quality timber and timber market destabilization. Therefore, the possibility of wood substitution with non-native spruce species, namely, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britt., Sterns, et Poggenburg), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk.), and blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), under the specific conditions of forest reclamations with great potential for future afforestation was tested. Wood density, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity were used to evaluate wood quality in comparison with native Norway spruce. The results confirmed that only the Serbian spruce reached the quality of Norway spruce and even exceeded it in terms of wood density (P. omorika 525 kg·m−3 vs. P. abies 517 kg·m−3) and exhibited comparable parameters with regard to other properties. The density of the other species was significantly lower for blue spruce (476 kg·m−3) and black spruce (468 kg·m−3). A similar trend was found for other wood parameters, which confirmed that Norway spruce quality was nearly comparable with that of Serbian spruce. On the other hand, black spruce and blue spruce did not match the quality of Norway spruce. The within-stem variability of the properties tested was low for all the spruce species examined. In conclusion, the Serbian spruce showed great potential for future usage in forest management and is one of the possible methods of Norway spruce replacement in times of unprecedented forest disturbances under the effects of global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]