Tracheid Length Variations within and among Trees in Plantation of Masson Pine

There were highly significant variations within and among trees in plantation of Masson Pine for latewood tracheid length. The tree, ring and tree x ring interaction effects accounted for 13%, 39% and 9% of total variation respectively, and the radial effects were small. Variations from the pith to the bark and from the base to the top complied with the general rules of tracheid length in conifer. Theoretically, the combination of ten trees and one radius was a better sampling strategy which would estimate effectively the wood properties of a population or a strain. The age of transition from juvenile to mature wood for tracheid length of plantation was about 12 years and was more than one of natural stands in the same geographical region. The percentage of juvenile wood decreased dramatically with tree ages and varied with different individuals.