Variations in anatomical characteristics and predicted paper quality of three Eucalyptus species planted in Indonesia

The aim of this study was to clarify the anatomical characteristics and predicted paper quality of Eucalyptus urophylla , E. grandis , and E. pellita planted in North Sumatra, Indonesia. In addition, potential hybridization among the three species was explored. The anatomical characteristics of the fiber (length, diameter, and wall thickness), vessels (element length, diameter, and frequency), the proportions of cell types, and the derived wood properties related to pulp and paper quality were examined for these three 9-year-old Eucalyptus species. The obtained results showed that vessel element length as well as fiber and ray parenchyma proportions significantly differed among the three species. Higher fiber and lower ray parenchyma proportions were observed in E. grandis, indicating that this species would be the best mother tree in a hybridization program for pulp and paper utilization, with the other two species complementary for refining the paper quality through this program. In terms of derived wood properties, the three species were considered to be promising raw material for the pulp and paper industry compared to other species that are broadly used as raw material for high-grade pulp and paper-based products.