%0 Research article
%T Differences in fibre properties in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) genetic entries grown at different spacing and sites
%A Gort, Jaume
%A Zubizarreta Gerendiain, Ane
%A Peltola, Heli
%A Pulkkinen, Pertti
%A Routa, Johanna
%A Jaatinen, Raimo
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.193
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/193
%X In forest breeding, stem volume growth and sawn timber quality  indicators have been used as the most important selection traits for  Scots pine, whereas less attention has been given to characteristics  such as fibre properties. In the above context, we investigated the  differences in fibre properties (i.e. fibre length, fibre width and  coarseness) in 20 year old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) genetic  entries as affected by spacing and site, but also the phenotypic  correlations between fibre properties, yield and wood density. The study  was based on materials harvested from 10 genetic entries grown in a  spacing trial (site 1) in central Finland, with a current stand density  of 2000 (spacing 1), 2000–2500 (spacing 2) and 4000 trees/ha (spacing  3). In order to study the effects of site, we harvested additional  material (4 of 7 genetic entries same as on site 1) from a trial located  in southern Finland with a corresponding stand density of 2000 trees/ha  (site 2). On site 1, spacing 1 and 3, all average values for analysed  fibre properties were similar. In spacing 2 average values were slightly  higher. On site 2, the average values for different fibre properties  were similar compared to the corresponding spacing 1 on site 1. Spacing  affected (p < 0.05) all average fibre properties on site 1; as did  also site, when comparing same genetic entries grown on both sites.  Regardless of spacing and site, the phenotypic correlations between  average fibre length, fibre width and coarseness showed, on average,  moderate to strong correlation (p < 0.05). Fibre width showed, in  general, low and positive phenotypic correlation with diameter at breast  height, stem volume and wood density on site 1. However, as a whole,  the ranking of genetic entries changed depending on the trait and  spacing considered. Thus, no overall ranking between genetic entries was  possible.