Color and Chemical Composition of Timber Woods (Daniellia oliveri, Isoberlinia doka, Khaya senegalensis, and Pterocarpus erinaceus) from Different Locations in Southern Mali

Wood characteristics and properties are related to various factors connected to the biochemical processes that occur in the tree during wood formation, but also, to the interactions with the environmental conditions at the tree growing location. In addition to climatic factors, several investigations drew attention to the significance of the influence of other environmental parameters at the tree growing location. In this perspective, this work aimed to characterize the variation in color and chemical composition of timber wood from different locations in southern Mali, of trees growing under the same climatic conditions. To do so, a total of 68 grounded wood samples, from 4 timber wood species (Daniellia oliveri, Isoberlinia doka, Khaya senegalensis, and Pterocarpus erinaceus), were analyzed using CIELab color space and FTIR-ATR. Overall, the results indicated that the variation in wood color and chemical properties can be related to the local environmental conditions. Pterocarpus erinaceus presented significant differences between samples from the three areas according to the highest number of variables (color parameters, molecular composition determined by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, and FTIR-ATR ratios). Daniellia oliveri and Khaya senegalensis, however, showed significant differences between areas of provenance for a lower number of variables. Isoberlinia doka, for its part, showed no significant differences and seems to be less sensitive to environmental factors. Furthermore, the results revealed that important differences exist between wood samples from Kati and Kenieba.

Automated summary

Wood characteristics and properties are influenced by biochemical processes and environmental conditions during wood formation. This study analyzed the color and chemical composition variation of timber wood from different locations in Mali. Results showed that wood color and chemical properties are related to local environmental conditions. Pterocarpus erinaceus exhibited significant differences in multiple variables, while Daniellia oliveri and Khaya senegalensis showed fewer differences. Isoberlinia doka, on the other hand, was less sensitive to environmental factors. Furthermore, there were important differences between wood samples from Kati and Kenieba.