FALSE RING FORMATION IN TEAK (TECTONA-GRANDIS LF) AND THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS

Seedling anatomy and cross sectional discs of 8- and 12-year-old (juve nile) teak trees were examined for tree ring analysis and determinatio n of environmental factors responsible for false ring formation in tea k. Based on the anatomy and location within the true annual rings, fou r types of false rings were identified. The results from both cross-da ting of plantation grown trees and controlled experiments, including i nduced drought, showed that rainfall during dry period, drought during active growing season, (container) polybag/field transplantation of s eedlings and juvenility are the important causative factors of frequen t false rings in teak. No definite relationship could be established b etween insect defoliation and the incidence of false rings. False ring formation in teak appears to be mainly a resultant feature of tree ri ng responses to different environmental and physical factors. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.