Effect of different seed sources on the physical and mechanical properties of 15-year-old teak trees planted in West Java, Indonesia

Superior teak has been developed by the Indonesian State Forest Enterprise (Perhutani) through breeding program. The research on wood properties of superior teak at the older trees (more than 10-year-old) is still limited in Indonesia. Therefore, the physical (heartwood percentage, wood color, basic density, and shrinkage) and mechanical (static bending and compressive strength) properties were investigated on 15-year-old three seed sources of teak (superior clone, superior seed and conventional) planted in West Java, Indonesia. Jati Plus Perhutani (JPP)/superior clone has higher heartwood percentage, brighter and lower redness color of wood, lower basic density, and also lower mechanical properties comparing to other seed sources. However, physical properties, MOR and MOE are not significant different among seed sources. Significant difference was only found in compressive strength. In addition, air-dry density has a positive correlation with all mechanical properties, suggesting that mechanical properties of teak wood can be predicted by air-dry density.