The Relationship between Longitudinal Growth Strain, Tree Form and Tension Wood at the Stem Periphery of Ten- to Eleven-Year-Old Eucalyptus globulus Labill

The potential for growth strain measurements for detection of tension wood was assessed in trees from two plantations of 10- to 11-year-old Eucalyptus globulus. Tension wood had commonly developed at or near the stem periphery of straight, vertical and dominant trees. At a localized level growth strain was found to be a good indicator of tension wood. However, in some cases moderate to low growth strain was also detected in some trees where tension wood had been overgrown with small amounts of normal wood. On a whole tree basis the relationship was not as clear. In this case growth strain values determined from multiple measurements appear to be influenced primarily by tissue close to the site of measurements and not by wood at relatively remote locations. In some cases low growth strain values were found in trees with significant tension wood and in others high growth strain values where little tension wood had developed.