Proceso de duramerización en árboles de teca y cocobolo de plantaciones comerciales: evaluación de la presencia de almidones

Two high-value commercial wood species will be studied: one with an international market and significant economic contribution through foreign exchange generation, teak (Tectona grandis), and another of great importance in the national market, cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), traditionally used in furniture manufacturing. The inclusion of trees from plantations has helped to fill high-value market niches such as woodcraft production. However, it has been observed that the amount of heartwood produced by trees grown in plantations at harvest age does not exceed 50% of the total stem volume. Therefore, the economic expectations for these species in productive systems are often not as favorable or profitable as initially projected. It is widely recognized that trees growing under fast-growth conditions, such as in commercial plantations, tend to produce heartwood of lower quality—in terms of color and durability—than that produced by trees from natural forests. Nevertheless, in both species, the physiological process of heartwood formation during tree growth remains poorly understood. In response to this situation, the present research proposal aims to determine the effects of site factors and clonal variation on starch formation and their influence on the color and extractive composition of the heartwood of cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) and teak (Tectona grandis), respectively, in fast-growing forest plantations. This project will generate valuable information on the formation of this important tissue (heartwood) in two high-value commercial species. The results will serve as a foundation for developing management and establishment strategies for plantations of these wood types. These findings will be highly useful not only for reforestation companies and small producers but also for organizations dedicated to woodcraft production.

Evaluar el efecto del sitio (en Dalbergia retusa) y de los clones (en Tectona grandis) sobre la formación de almidones y su relación con el color y los extractivos del duramen en madera proveniente de plantaciones forestales de rápido crecimiento.

Tecnología de la madera, biomateriales, biomasa y dendroenergía