Wood color analysis and integrated selection of Paulownia clones grown in Hubei Province, China

Paulownia Siebold et Zucc., a widely distributed native genus, has been commonly used in the furniture. The color of wood is a very important aesthetical property, and it has a fundamental influence on the commercial value of timbers. Therefore, it is critical for forest managers to select elite Paulownia clones based on the color of wood. Eighteen 5-year-old Paulownia clones grown in a hilly area in Hubei Province, China were examined in terms of color values (L*, a*, b*), color difference (ΔE*), and Hunter lab space whiteness (W) using a Chroma meter CR-400. Differences in color parameters among the 18 clones were analyzed and clustered. The results showed that the ranges of L*, a*, b*, ΔE*, and W were 77.19-80.38, 3.60-4.84, 13.79-15.69, 17.92-21.37, and 68.92-72.42, respectively. The color parameters significantly differed among the examined clones. Differential and cluster analyses indicated that clones 204, 605, 702, and 603 had higher L*, W, and lower ΔE*, rendering these as elite clones with superior color properties.