Genetic improvement of kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus nitens using cellulose content determined by near infrared spectroscopy

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2363-2370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence R Schimleck ◽  
Peter D Kube ◽  
Carolyn A Raymond
Keyword(s):  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Tree Breeding ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Direct Measure ◽  
Eucalyptus Nitens ◽  
Wet Chemistry ◽  
Genetic Gains

Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden (shining gum) is widely grown for kraft pulp production in many cool temperate regions of the world. Improving the kraft pulp yield of this species is important for increasing plantation profitability, but traditional assessment is slow and expensive. Cellulose content, which is strongly correlated with pulp yield, has been used as an alternative in tree breeding programs. However, a direct measure of cellulose content still relies on wet chemistry, limiting the number of samples that can be processed and the subsequent gains that can be made in a tree breeding program. An indirect method such as near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a large increase in the numbers of samples that can be analysed. In this study, the genetic gains in cellulose content of E. nitens were compared using cellulose content, determined using wet chemistry and predicted by NIR calibrations based on different sampling intensities. Genetic gains based on NIR-predicted cellulose content were high, and a large proportion of the gain was achievable using a direct measure of cellulose. Calibrations were robust and generally could be reliably used across sites. NIR-predicted cellulose is highly heritable, with heritabilities comparable to or better than direct measures of cellulose.

Estimation of whole-tree kraft pulp yield of Eucalyptus nitens using near-infrared spectra collected from increment cores

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 2797-2805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence R Schimleck ◽  
Peter D Kube ◽  
Carolyn A Raymond ◽  
Anthony J Michell ◽  
Jim French
Keyword(s):  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Eucalyptus Nitens ◽  
Increment Core ◽  
Traditional Assessment ◽  
Shining Gum ◽  
A Site ◽  
Whole Tree

Eucalyptus nitens (Deane and Maiden) Maiden (shining gum) is widely grown for kraft pulp production. Improving the kraft pulp yield of E. nitens increases plantation profitability but traditional assessment is slow and expensive, which hinders improvement. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a rapid and inexpensive method for estimating pulp yield, but studies have been limited to estimating whole-tree pulp yield using whole-tree composite samples obtained destructively. For whole-tree pulp-yield calibrations to be used non-destructively they must be applied to increment cores. In this study we used a Tasmanian E. nitens whole-tree pulp yield calibration to estimate the whole-tree pulp yields of trees from a site not included in the calibration. This was done using NIR spectra from increment cores and whole-tree composite chips. Predictions of whole-tree pulp yield based on increment cores were better than those obtained using whole-tree composite chips. The accuracy of pulp-yield predictions was greatly improved by adding a small number of prediction-set samples to the calibration sets. Calibrations for estimating whole-tree pulp yield were also obtained using NIR spectra from milled cores and whole-tree composite chips. The calibrations had similar statistics, indicating that it is possible to obtain calibrations for estimating whole-tree pulp yield based on increment-core NIR spectra.

Assessment of the Pulpwood Quality of Standing Trees Using near Infrared Spectroscopy

1998 ◽  
Vol 6 (A) ◽  
pp. A117-A123 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Schimleck ◽  
A. J. Michell ◽  
C. A. Raymond ◽  
A. Muneri
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Breeding ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Calibration Model ◽  
Standing Trees ◽  
Sampling Height ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Whole Tree

In Australia, considerable effort has been directed at improving the pulp yield of plantation grown trees through tree breeding programs. However, an improvement in pulp yield relies on the assessment of large numbers of trees. Traditional methods of assessment are expensive, time consuming and destructive, inhibiting their use. Cores can be extracted non-destructively from standing trees using TRECOR, a handheld motor driven drill. The cores are milled, their near-infrared spectra obtained and pulp yield estimated using an appropriate calibration model. The height at which the core is taken is very important. It must represent the whole tree and sampling must be easy and practical. The longitudinal and radial (within-tree) variation of pulp yield for 15 Eucalyptus nitens trees was examined using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The trees were taken from three families (five trees per family) selected for giving high, medium and low pulp yields respectively. Three trees (one from each family) were examined in detail. Maps of within-tree variation of pulp yield were developed. Pulp yield was found to be highly variable within individual trees and between trees of the same family. The yield of samples from 10% of tree height (approximately 2.2 m) gave the best correlation with whole-tree yield. Samples from 5% of tree height (approximately 1.1 m) gave a slightly lower correlation but provided a more convenient sampling height. Ten Eucalyptus globulus and ten E. nitens trees growing on five sites in Australia were used to examine the longitudinal variation of pulp yield. Trees from sites in Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria were sampled. The optimal sampling height for E. globulus was 1.1 m. No single sampling height could be recommended for E. nitens due to large site effects.

Development of near infrared reflectance analysis calibrations for estimating genetic parameters for cellulose content in Eucalyptus globulus

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Raymond ◽  
L R Schimleck
Keyword(s):  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Basic Density ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Near Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Reflectance Analysis

Determining kraft pulp yield in the traditional way is slow and expensive, limiting the numbers of samples that may be processed. An alternative is to use a secondary standard, such as cellulose content of the wood, which is strongly correlated with kraft pulp yield. The feasibility and efficiency of predicting cellulose content using near infrared reflectance (NIR) analysis was examined for Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Calibrations for NIR prediction of cellulose content indicated that NIR analysis could be used as a reliable predictor. Standard errors of calibration were 1% or lower, and there was excellent agreement between laboratory and predicted cellulose values. Cellulose content was under moderate genetic control (h2 ranging from 0.32 to 0.57), and genetic correlations with tree diameter and basic density were variable (ranging from –0.11 to –0.51 and –0.33 to 0.67, respectively). The advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications of NIR analysis for predicting cellulose content are examined.

Radial variation in Kraft pulp yield and cellulose content in Eucalyptus globulus wood across three contrasting sites predicted by near infrared spectroscopy

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1577-1586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey M. Downes ◽  
Christopher E. Harwood ◽  
John Wiedemann ◽  
Nick Ebdon ◽  
Helen Bond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Radial Variation ◽  
Site Quality ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Radial Sampling

There is little published information on the variability of pulp yield within eucalypt stems. This is primarily due to the difficulty in measuring pulp yield in small samples, especially those obtained nondestructively. Thus, information of the effect of site, climate, and silviculture on pulp yield variability is lacking, minimizing its consideration in the economic optimization of pulpwood production. Near infrared spectroscopic measurement of pulp yield directly from intact wood surfaces at a small, radial sampling interval provides forest managers with opportunities to better understand and manage its sources of variability. Calibrations based on solid wood samples were constructed to describe radial variation in Kraft pulp yield and cellulose content using intact wood samples from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Plantations at three sites with contrasting annual rainfall were studied. Pulp yield and cellulose content were higher at the more productive, wetter sites. Outer wood near the cambium had pulp yield values up to 8% higher than those at the pith. There was no clear intra-annual cycle of variation. The more productive sites exhibited significantly steeper pith-to-bark increases in pulp yield than the driest site. This has implications for optimizing pulp productivity by considering rotation length and site quality.

Effects of Specific Gravity and Wood Chemical Content on the Pulp Yield of Loblolly Pine

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID E. WHITE ◽  
CHARLES COURCHENE ◽  
THOMAS MCDONOUGH ◽  
LAURIE SCHIMLECK ◽  
DAVID JONES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Wood Specific Gravity ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Chemical Content

We quantified the effects of wood density (chip specific gravity) and wood chemical composition (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) on the kraft pulp yield of 13-year-old loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda) grown as part of a genetic selection study. Both bleachable (kappa No. 30) and linerboard grade (kappa No. 100) pulps were made from 18 trees selected for combinations of wood specific gravity and cellulose:hemicellulose:lignin ratios. Statistical analysis indicated that digester pulp yield correlated significantly with wood xylan content and cellulose-to-lignin ratio but was not strongly correlated to wood specific gravity. Near infrared (NIR) spectra were collected from wood samples and correlated with the total kraft pulp yields. The analyses for both kappa No. 30 and kappa No. 100 pulps provided strong calibration statistics, suggesting that papermakers can use NIR spectroscopy to esti-mate the bleachable and linerboard grade pulp yields of P. taeda whole-tree samples.

Evaluation of Lignin Syringyl/Guaiacyl Ratio in Eucalyptus Camaldulensis across Three Diverse Sites Based on near Infrared Spectroscopic Calibration Modelling with Five Eucalyptus Species and its Impact on Kraft Pulp Yield

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 529-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Payyavula Ramadevi ◽  
Deepak V. Hegde ◽  
Mohan Varghese ◽  
Rathinam Kamalakannan ◽  
Suraj P. Ganapathy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Calibration Plot ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Calibration Model ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Pyrolysis Gas ◽  
G Ratio

Lignin composition [syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio] and cellulose content in wood have an important bearing on pulp yield. This paper deals with the development of a calibration model for S/G ratio using five Eucalyptus species from different sites by diffuse reflectance near infrared spectroscopy. The model was constructed with 120 samples covering an S/G ratio range from 1.8 to 3.6, determined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The calibration plot has an R2 value of 0.825 which was validated in E. camaldulensis, E. urophylla and E. pellita. Variation in S/G ratio was studied in more than 3000 E. camaldulensis trees across three diverse sites in southern India. The S/G ratio was lower in a low rainfall site (Mahabubnagar) compared to a higher rainfall site (Ongole). A positive correlation ( R2 = 0.72) was observed between S/G ratio and Kraft pulp yield in E. camaldulensis. Alkali consumption in Kraft pulping experiments was inversely proportional to the S/G ratio ( R2 = 0.914).

Genetic control of kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus globulus

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 917-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond J. Stackpole ◽  
René E. Vaillancourt ◽  
Geoffrey M. Downes ◽  
Christopher E. Harwood ◽  
Brad M. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Basic Density ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Narrow Sense Heritability ◽  
Selection Gradients ◽  
Economic Worth

Pulp yield is an important breeding objective for Eucalyptus globulus Labill., but evaluation of its genetic control and genetic correlations with other traits has been limited by its high assessment cost. We used near infrared spectroscopy to study genetic variation in pulp yield and other traits in a 16-year-old E. globulus trial. Pulp yield was predicted for 2165 trees from 467 open-pollinated families from 17 geographic subraces. Significant differences between subraces and between families within subraces were detected for all traits. The high pulp yield of southern Tasmanian subraces suggested that their economic worth was previously underestimated. The narrow-sense heritability of pulp yield was medium (0.40). The significant positive genetic correlation between pulp yield and diameter (0.52) was at odds with the generally neutral values reported. The average of the reported genetic correlations between pulp yield and basic density (0.50) was also at odds with our nonsignificant estimate. Pulp yield of the subraces increased with increasing latitude, producing a negative correlation with density (–0.58). The absence of genetic correlations within subraces between pulp yield and density suggests that the correlation may be an independent response of the two traits to the same or different selection gradients that vary with latitude.

On the selection of samples for multivariate regression analysis: application to near-infrared (NIR) calibration models for the prediction of pulp yield in Eucalyptus nitens

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 2626-2634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian R. Mora ◽  
Laurence R. Schimleck
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Data ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Cross Validation ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Eucalyptus Nitens ◽  
Calibration Models ◽  
Calibration Sets ◽  
Measured Property

The effects of using reduced calibration sets on the development of near-infrared (NIR) calibration models for the prediction of kraft pulp yield in Eucalyptus nitens (Dean & Maiden) Maiden trees were explored. Three selection techniques based on NIR spectral data (CADEX (computer-aided design of experiments), DUPLEX, and SELECT algorithms) and one selection method based on a measured property (RANKING algorithm) were used for analysis and compared against a model using all data. The effect of using calibration sets of different sizes was also evaluated. All sample-selection methods resulted in models of similar performance compared with the model fitted using all samples. For calibration purposes, RANKING selection resulted in models with the lowest errors of cross-validation, followed by the DUPLEX, CADEX, and SELECT methods. In terms of validation, the SELECT and CADEX methods resulted in lower errors of prediction compared with the DUPLEX and RANKING algorithms. In general, cross-validation and prediction errors decreased as the number of calibration samples increased. These results show that it is possible to obtain adequate NIR calibration models with a reduced number of samples allowing the remaining samples to be used for model validation and that sample selection based on NIR spectral data alone is as successful as selection based on a measured property.

Prediction of Stilbene Content from Heartwood Increment Cores of Scots Pine Using near Infrared Spectroscopy Methodology

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Pulkka ◽  
Vincent Segura ◽  
Anni Harju ◽  
Tarja Tapanila ◽  
Johanna Tanner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Nir Spectroscopy ◽  
Tree Breeding ◽  
Decay Resistance ◽  
Increment Core ◽  
Automatic Selection ◽  
Non Destructive ◽  
Selection Of

High-throughput and non-destructive methods for quantifying the content of the stilbene compounds of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) heartwood are needed in the breeding for decay resistance of heartwood timber. In this study, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy calibrations were developed for a large collection of solid heartwood increment core samples in order to predict the amount of the stilbene pinosylvin (PS), its monomethyl ether (PSM) and their sum (STB). The resulting models presented quite accurate predictions in an independent validation set with R2V values ranging between 0.79 and 0.91. The accuracy of the models strongly depended on the chemical being calibrated, with the lowest accuracy for PS, intermediate accuracy for PSM and highest accuracy for STB. The effect of collecting one, two or more (up to five) spectra per sample on the calibration models was studied and it was found that averaging multiple spectra yielded better accuracy as it may account for the heterogeneity of wood along the increment core within and between rings. Several statistical pretreatments of the spectra were tested and an automatic selection of wavenumbers prior to calibration. Without the automatic selection of wavenumbers, a first derivative of normalised spectra yielded the best accuracies, whereas after the automatic selection of wavenumbers, no particular statistical pretreatment appeared to yield better results than any other. Finally, the automatic selection of wavenumbers slightly improved the accuracy of the models for all traits. These results demonstrate the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a high-throughput and non-destructive phenotyping technique in tree breeding for the improvement of decay resistance in heartwood timber.

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