A Comparison of the kraft pulp properties of P. elliottii and the P. elliottii x P. caribaea var. hondurensis hybrid grown in Queensland, Australia

SYNOPSIS The interspecific hybrid between P. elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis has recently been accepted for planting operationally as an alternative to P. elliottii by Sappi in South Africa. Some concerns have been expressed as to the suitability of the hybrid for the production of pulpwood; these stein from the observed inferiority of P. caribaea var. hondurensis, one of tile parents of this hybrid, as a source of pulpwood in South Africa. As part of a collaborative project with the Queensland Forestry Research Institute (QFRI) in Australia, who felled and supplied chips from 4 individual trees of a suitable age of each of 4 families of each taxon. The kraft pulp yield and pulp properties of P. elliottii var. elliottii and the P. elliottii x P. caribaea var. hondurensis hybrid were compared using laboratory scale pulping.