Pinus caribaea M. comprises three varieties: hondurensis, bahamensis and caribaea, the latter being crucial to the Cuban forestry industry. This systematic review evaluated some physical–mechanical properties and tracheid biometry of Pinus caribaea M. wood, with particular emphasis on var. caribaea, to identify potential knowledge gaps and followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The investigation was conducted in four databases, including gray literature up to December 2024, and the risk of bias was assessed using a tool adapted from the JBI critical appraisal checklist. A total of 535 studies were identified, of which 75 were included in the review based on the inclusion criteria. It was found that only 17.3% of the selected publications focus on var. caribaea. Most studies evaluate physical properties, with less attention paid to mechanical properties and cell biometry. A downward trend in recent publications was noted for this variety, along with a predominance of the radial direction as a source of variation. A lack of research on mature trees (>30 years) as well as other sources of variation were identified as information gaps. Value ranges for density, shrinkage, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture in static bending, compressive strength parallel to the grain, as well as tracheid biometry were synthesized from the available publications for all varieties. It is concluded that var. caribaea is under-researched, and a systematic study is therefore required to optimize its use and industrial impact.
Trocones-Boggiano et al. (2026) studied this question.