ABSTRACT
The objetive of this study is to cluster selected trees of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex-Maiden as a function of phenotypic, dendrometric and wood technology characteristics. In a 27 years old commercial stand, located in the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, 63 selected trees were cut down and classified to the phenotypic and dendrometric characteristics. Then, disks were taken at the base, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the commercial height, and at the DBH, for basic density determination. From the two first logs above the DBH boards parallel to the pith were taken, with 25mm of thickness, for sawn wood qualitative evaluation. The selected trees were grouped into four distinct groups following cluster analysis. In Group I were classified the trees with a lower tendency of presenting boards with end splits while in Groups II and III were classified the trees with a lower tendency of presenting logs with end splits and, in Group IV were classified the trees with a higher tendency of presenting end splits of the boards and the logs. For these groups, by discriminant analysis, there were identified five variables with real power of discrimination (DBH, estimated log split perimeter, ratio height/diameter (rh/d), type of bark and sapwood volumetric percentage) and three discriminant functions. The technique of the multivariate analyze was an efficient method of grouping the selected trees of Eucalyptus grandis. The discriminant analysis enabled the selection of variables with real power of sorting the trees and determinating the discriminant functions that allow the allocation of future trees in the cluster.
Key words:
grouping analysis; Eucalyptus grandis; dentometric characteristics; wood technology