Abstract: Poplar is one of the major fast growing afforestation species in China.Utilization of poplar wood plays an important role in the development of forestry and forest products industry in China.Wet heart wood,an abnormality occuring in tree growth,is a critical problem in poplar wood processing and utilization.Many studies have been made abroad on wet heart wood since early last century.This paper gives a brief introduction of the progress of the studies and some important viewpoints,involving the formation of wet heart wood,the becteria,moisture and gases in wet heart wood,the pH value,color,strength and permeability of wet heart wood and its behavior in processing such as drying,milling and wood based panel production.

Key words: Wet heart wood, Poplar, Formation, Properties