Influence of Age on the Discrimination of Tectona grandis by VIS/NIR Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT Wood color and properties are variables among and within species, and fast and non-destructive techniques can be applied to their characterization, being also important in wood marketing and quality control. This paper evaluated the influence of age on the discrimination of Tectona grandis L.F. (teak) wood by VIS/NIR spectroscopy. Wood from three ages, with heartwood and sapwood, were studied, totaling 36 samples per age. Quantitative colorimetric data, based on CIELAB 1976, visible and NIR infrared spectra were collected from radial and tangential surfaces in five positions of each sample, in a total of 540 spectra. Both techniques were adequate for age discrimination in teak wood. Statistical differences were observed in the chromatic coordinates in heartwood and sapwood for each age. VIS/NIR spectroscopy can be applied for age discrimination based on teak solid samples and for wood quality control.