Technological properties of canker-resistant cypress clones for timber production

Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) has been widely cultivated for centuries throughout the Mediterranean region as a multipurpose tree and still plays a major role in the Italian landscape. Mainly used as ornamental, it has been also widely used for protective purposes due to its high plasticity and adaptability to poor soils and environments. At the same time, it is capable of considerable growths, achieving a high productivity. Moreover, cypress wood is also characterized by technological properties greatly appreciated as the fine texture, high natural durability and good mechanical and aesthetic qualities.The extensive damages caused by cypress canker epidemics have limited the use of this tree during the last five decades and currently there is no a real market of cypress wood, mainly because of the short supply. Hence, the need of a new assessment of cypress for a productive forestry. The large availability of cypress genotypes selected for resistance to Seiridium cardinale canker, has provided the material for the further technological characterization of those clones potentially more suitable to be cultivated for timber production. Totally, ten C. sempervirens var. horizontalis clones were sampled in two stands with different environmental conditions. Both growth, morphological and wood technological traits were measured to evaluate the performance showed by the selected genotypes in the two sites. Generally, all the evaluated clones have proved suitable for timber production. They were characterized by an adequate growth rate, especially in the more favourable site. The fast growing was closely linked to the pedoclimatic conditions of the site, while the branch size and the development of the crown should be controlled appropriately by specific cultural practices. The wood properties were rather stable across the sites, although higher growth rates were associated with lower wood density, but also with lower shrinkages. The establishment of cypress plantation for timber production seems entirely possible, due to the availability of canker-resistant genotypes with high productive potential and suitable technological properties of cypress wood.