Anatomical property variation in Acacia auriculiformis growing in Bangladesh

Abstract

Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. (ex Benth) is an extensively planted fast-growing species in Bangladesh. Understanding the anatomical property variation has significant importance in tree improvement and wood utilization. Radial variations of anatomical properties in 11-year-old trees were examined in this study. Vessel diameter increased gradually up to about 40–45% distance from pith and then levelled-off to bark. Fibre diameter gradually decreased toward bark, whereas fibre wall thickness showed a reverse pattern. In contrast to fibre proportion, vessel and ray proportions gradually increased from pith to bark. Cell wall proportion was nearly stable up to ∼70% distance from pith and then increased gradually to bark. Results suggest that air-dried density or compressive strength variation is mainly attributed by the fibre morphology, i.e. fibre diameter and fibre wall thickness (at 1% level). Significant variations among the trees in vessel and fibre diameters (at 1% level), and ray and axial parenchyma proportions (at 5% level) suggest the possibility of tree selection for breeding.