SELECTED TREE CHARACTERISTICS AND WOOD PROPERTIES OF TWO POPLAR CLONES

Poplar clones, genetically improved with fast growth had been planted. Usually the purpose of such plantations is production of biomass, pulp and paper. For selecting and managing trees it is important to know the properties of wood that are often under genetic control. This article presents tree characteristics and some anatomical properties of two poplar clones grown on two sites in Croatia; the Italian 'I-214' (P. x euroamericana) and the Serbian 'S1-8' (P. deltoides). Five trees from each clone were collected from both sites. Site and clone had statistically significant influence on tree characteristics of chosen poplars. Clone 'S1-8' had superior growth increment, Survival and it had significantly larger cell wood and ray wood percentage and lower fiber lumen percentage on both sites, while fiber length of both clones was larger on less favourable site in Koprivnica. At the same time clone 'S1-8' had larger amount of undesired tension wood.