Abstract

S.K. Sharma*, S.R. Shukla and M. Sujatha

The radial variation of anatomical properties in three clones (HD3, K47 and H4) of 8-year-old Acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium x Acacia auriculaeformis), grown by the Mysore Paper Mills, Bhadravati, Karnataka (India), is reported. The fibre and vessel morphology were studied from pith to periphery and variations between the clones were analyzed statistically. Various anatomical properties were also compared with the pure forms of A. mangium as well as A. auriculaeformis of identical age. Certain anatomical parameters such as fibre length, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter and vessel diameter showed significant radial variation from pith outwards. However, vessel frequency did not exhibit much radial variation. Fibre length was found to be positively correlated with vessel diameter, vessel element length and negatively correlated with fibre diameter and fibre lumen diameter. The correlation coefficients between various anatomical parameters were also computed and analyzed statistically. The results showed that inter clonal variation in various anatomical properties was significant except fibre lumen diameter and vessel diameter. All the clones showed longer fibres (1001-1078 µm) compared to pure forms of A. mangium (995 µm) and A. auriculaeformis (828 µm). Runkel ratio (0.644-0.679) and shape factor (0.443-0.471) values obtained in the present study are within the prescribed range to produce pulp of reasonable quality.