HEARTWOOD COLOUR VARIATION IN HOME GARDEN TEAK (<em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em>) FROM WET AND DRY LOCALITIES OF KERALA, INDIA

Abstract

THULASIDAS, P. K., BHAT, K. M. & OKUYAMA, T. 2006. Heartwood colour variation in home garden
teak (Tectona grandis) from wet and dry localities of Kerala, India. Colour of teak wood from homesteads
was characterized in comparison with that grown in forest plantation by two methods of colour determination,
namely, Munsell system and CIE 1976 (L* a* b*) system in order to interpret precisely the colour variation.
As per the Munsell hue system, heartwood colour of home garden teak from wet locality was comparable to
that of dry sites and forest plantation specimens. However, the chroma value indicated less saturation of
colour in the former. The chromaticness index b* (yellowness) of wet site sample as determined by CIE
1976 (L* a* b*) system differed significantly (p < 0.05) from dry site and plantation specimens with more
yellowness. No significant difference was observed among the samples collected from the different localities
with regard to brightness (L*) and redness (a*) (p < 0.05). The results suggest that the paler colour (less
yellowness) of wet site teak wood is the limiting factor of timber price of home garden teak as compared
with the forest plantation.