Macroscopic Growth and Development Characteristics of Matoa Wood

The growth and development of Matoa (Pometia coreacea) from the seedling stage to maturity may take several decades, particularly for trees to develop large diameter stems with a high proportion of heartwood. The development of juvenile and mature wood, heartwood and sapwood formation, and other wood properties is influenced by growth rate, environmental conditions, and genetic characteristics, which ultimately affect wood quality. These variations can be evaluated through macroscopic wood characteristics. This study examined the growth and development characteristics of Pometia coreacea based on macroscopic observations of wood and bark. The results showed that Pometia coreacea wood had indistinct growth-ring boundaries, with the number of growth rings generally increasing with increasing wood diameter. The mean growth-ring width ranged from 0.47 to 1.83 cm, indicating variation in radial growth among diameter classes. As stem diameter increased, the proportion of heartwood increased, whereas the proportion of sapwood decreased. Differences in wood color were observed between the tip and base sections of the stem. The bark was predominantly brown, with greenish or white patches, and became progressively thicker as stem diameter increased. Macroscopically, Pometia coreacea exhibited predominantly straight grain, a characteristic young-coconut odor, moderately coarse texture, and hard wood. The wood also showed relatively narrow rays. These characteristics indicate that changes in stem diameter are associated with variations in growth-ring development, heartwood and sapwood proportions, bark thickness, and other macroscopic properties. Overall, the findings provide useful baseline information for understanding the growth and development of Pometia coreacea and for supporting wood identification, quality assessment, and potential utilization based on its macroscopic characteristics