RADIAL VARIATION IN WOOD PROPERTIES OF NATURALLY AND PLANTATION GROWN LIGHT RED MERANTI (SHOREA, DIPTEROCARPACEAE)

The wood quality parameters of cell wall percentage, tissue proportions and basic specific gravity were determined for three naturally and nine plantation grown trees of Light Red Meranti (Shorea leprosula and S. parvifolia). In both naturally and plantation grown trees variation in specific gravity is most significant within trees, i.e., it increases from pith to bark. This variation is mainly explained by an increase in fibre cell wall percentage, despite a decrease of fibre area percentage. Th e parameters studied do not differ much between the 'wild' and plantation grown trees. The plantation grown trees have slightly less variable wood than the 'wild' trees. Within and among trees specific gravity and anatomical parameters vary considerably. More trees and more samples per tree should be studied to obtain more statistically reliable data and to judge the importance of this variation for selection in breeding programmes.