Performance of Eucalyptus clones in growth and wood quality under contrasting climatic conditions for kraft pulp production
Abstract This study evaluated how contrasting climatic conditions across three sites in Brazil affect growth, basic density, and wood chemical composition of five young Eucalyptus clones. Analyses included mean annual increment, biomass production, basic density, extractives content, total lignin, hemicellulose, alpha-cellulose, ash content, and the syringyl-to-guaiacyl (S/G) lignin ratio. Higher water availability at the SP site (lowest water deficit) and the BA site (intermediate water availability) promoted greater wood biomass accumulation, whereas the environment with the highest water deficit (MA) resulted in increased basic density. The responses of chemical traits were dependent on the genetic material, with extractives content being the most unstable variable across environments. Among climatic variables, only temperature was positively correlated with basic density, which influenced the specific wood consumption (SWC), showing an inverse relationship with basic density. The results indicate that genetic improvement programs may help reduce variability in the most sensitive properties (particularly extractives), thereby decreasing environmental heterogeneity that can compromise the predictability of kraft pulping performance.
Authors
- Renata Guilherme Cândido da Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2862-5179)
- Graziela Baptista Vidaurre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9285-7105)
- Sâmara Magdalene Vieira Nunes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7699-3473)
- Ana Lourenço (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4896-344X)
- Stéffany de Lima Araujo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9318-2610)
- Vaniele Bento dos Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2391-1096)
- Thayanne Caroline Castor Neto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9740-1665)
- Duarte M. Neiva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5913-5976)
- José Eduardo Macedo Pezzopane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0024-4016)
- Maria Naruna Félix de Almeida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6360-7780)
- Jorge Gominho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3419-6075)
- Bruno Sangali Arantes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4674-2723)
- Aguinaldo José de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0247-3007)
- Érica Patrícia Pinto Queiroz
Institutions
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- Suzano (Brazil) (BR)
- Laboratório Associado TERRA (PT)
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Pará (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Journal of Wood and Wood Products
- Published
- 2026-08-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-026-02479-1
- Primary Topic
- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Universidade de Lisboa
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Espírito Santo
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia