Near-infrared Spectroscopy: a Rapid Non-destructive Method for Measuring Wood Properties, and Its Application to Tree Breeding*

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a rapid, non-destructive method for the routine estimation of wood properties. NIR spectroscopy is increasingly being used to replace traditional methods of wood property assessment, and it provides a wealth of information to tree growers, tree breeders, and manufacturers of forest products. The technology is particularly well-suited to tree improvement programmes where large numbers of samples must be analysed, but it can be utilised in any forestry application where the rapid provision of wood property data is required. The application of NIR spectroscopy to samples ranging in size from milled chips representing whole trees, to sections of wooden strips cut from increment cores, and, at the smallest scale, to wafers cut from the tangential face of cores was examined, along with studies that have utilised NIR spectroscopy for tree breeding purposes. The technology has some limitations and there are also obstacles to wider acceptance.