Mosaic, block-face microscopy for measuring cell dimensions, cell collapse, and spatial relationships in wood

IAWA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Alan Dickson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Ring ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Intermediate Step ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Wall Area ◽  
Sufficient Detail ◽  
Cell Dimensions ◽  
Block Face ◽  
Wood Surfaces ◽  
Cell Collapse

Abstract A conventional stereo light microscope was used to image polished wood surfaces at cellular resolution over size scales of the growth ring or larger. Bandpass filtering and local area contrast enhancement were used to aid automatic image thresholding and binarisation. An estimate for the location and proportion of cell collapse was introduced based on the distance between uncollapsed cell lumens. Additionally, spatial associations between vessels were determined using a Euclidean distance transform. The analysis of pith to bark cores provided sufficient detail to show significant intra and inter-annual trends in Pinus radiata tracheid dimensions (wall thickness, wall area, and radial widths). These trends were consistent with expectations and in agreement with the literature. Measured cell dimensions may be influenced by cell collapse and deformation as a result of drying. The analysis of air, kiln and oven-dried Eucalyptus nitens showed that cell collapse was highly variable but generally more prominent in the outer third of growth rings. There were significant changes in vessel shape across the growth rings and vessel area was significantly reduced by drying. The technique provides an intermediate step between detailed microscopy and macroscopic imaging that allows spatial analysis at the wood cell level.

scholarly journals Shelling of Growth Rings at Softwood Surfaces Exposed to Natural Weathering

Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 862
Author(s):  
Lukie H. Leung ◽  
Philip D. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Growth Ring ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Natural Weathering ◽  
Woody Tissue ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Western Larch ◽  
Wood Surfaces

Shelling is the delamination of growth rings and the projection of woody tissue from wood surfaces. Shelling disrupts coatings and makes refinishing difficult, and a better understanding of the phenomenon is needed to help alleviate its unwanted effects. We tested whether confocal profilometry could quantify shelling in flat-faced and profiled-faced western larch deckboards exposed to natural weathering and examined the effects of growth-ring orientation and angle on shelling. Confocal profilometry was able to quantify shelling in both deckboard types. Shelling developed at the surface of flat-faced deckboards oriented pith-side-up, whereas it was absent from boards oriented bark-side-up. We found an inverse correlation between the height of shelled growth rings and the angle of growth rings to the surface of flat-faced boards. Shelling occurred in profiled-faced boards oriented pith-side-up due to the delamination of growth ring tips and projection of latewood from wood surfaces. A superficially similar although less pronounced phenomenon was seen in profiled-faced boards oriented bark-side-up. The shelling of profiled-faced boards oriented pith-side-up created lanceolate-shaped slivers of latewood that projected from the peaks of profiles. Some of these latewood tips were sharp and, for this reason, we suggest that profiled-faced western larch deckboards should always be oriented bark-side-up rather than pith-side-up.

The Effect of Growth Rate on the Structure and Compressive Properties of Cork

IAWA Journal ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Pereira ◽  
José Graça ◽  
Cecília Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Annual Growth ◽  
Compressive Properties ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Lower Strength ◽  
Young’S Moduli ◽  
Annual Growth Ring ◽  
Annual Growth Rings ◽  
Cell Dimensions

Cork samples with an age of 9 years and with different growth rates, corresponding to calibre classes 'small', 'medium' and 'large', were observed by scanning electron microscopy and tested mechanically in compression. Differences in calibre correspond to different widths of annual growth rings; widths differ because both the number of cells produced per year and cell dimensions differ. For instance, small and large calibre cork had, respectively, 50 and 151 cells in one row of an annual growth ring, with an average prism height of 32.6 and 39.8 )µm. The stress-strain curves obtained in compression parallel to the three main directions showed that cork with the higher growth rate (large calibre) has lower strength in compression for all strains and lower Young's moduli.

Distribution of juvenile wood in two stems of Larixlaricina

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1041-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Yang ◽  
C. A. Benson ◽  
J. K. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Wood ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Vertical Variation ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Ring Number ◽  
Tracheid Length ◽  
Growth Ring Width

The distribution and vertical variation of juvenile wood was studied in an 81-year-old dominant tree and an 83-year-old suppressed tree of Larixlaricina (Du Roi) K. Koch. Two criteria, growth ring width and tracheid length, were used to demarcate the boundary of juvenile wood. The width of juvenile wood, expressed in centimetres and the number of growth rings, decreased noticeably from the base to the top of the tree. The volume of juvenile wood decreased in a similar pattern. These decreasing trends had a strong negative correlation with the year of formation of cambial initials at a given tree level. The length of these cambial initials decreased with increasing age of formation of the cambial initials. In the juvenile wood zone, there was a positive linear regression between the growth ring number (age) and the tracheid length. The slopes of these regression lines at various tree levels increased as the age of the year of formation of the cambial initials increased. At a given tree level, the length of tracheids increased from the pith to a more uniform length near the bark. However, the number of years needed to attain a more uniform tracheid length decreased from the base to the top of the tree. These relationships suggest that the formation of juvenile wood is related to the year of formation of the cambial initials. Consequently, the juvenile wood is conical in shape, tapering towards the tree top.

scholarly journals Jahrringe als Indikatoren für extreme Standortsbedingungen im Gebirge: Schnee, Lawinen und Permafrost | Growth rings as indicators of extreme site conditions in the mountains: snow, avalanches and permafrost

2004 ◽  
Vol 155 (6) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bebi ◽  
Alejandro Casteller ◽  
Andrea Corinna Mayer ◽  
Veronika Stöckli
Keyword(s):  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Extreme Conditions ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Ring Analysis

Snow, avalanches, and permafrost are extreme site conditions for plants. Reactions and adaptations to such extreme conditions can be reconstructed with growth ring analysis and linked with corresponding climate and disturbance data. On the basis of five case studies in and around the long-term research site Stillberg, near Davos, we discuss both the potential and the limits of dendroecology to understand the effect of such extreme site conditions. Despite some uncertainties in reliably assigning plant reactions, growth ring analysis is a valuable addition to better understand the effects of extreme site conditions on the survival and growth of plants. This can lead to improved management strategies associated with natural hazards, especially in the case of avalanches.

scholarly journals Effect of growth ring angle on lateral enlargement of compressed Cryptomeria japonica wood impregnated with polyethylene glycol

BioResources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 8756-8769
Author(s):  
Chikara Mizoguchi ◽  
Hiroki Sakagami ◽  
Noboru Fujimoto ◽  
Tetsuya Nakao
Keyword(s):  
Polyethylene Glycol ◽  
Compression Ratio ◽  
Cryptomeria Japonica ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Fiber Direction ◽  
Ratio Curve ◽  
Inflection Points ◽  
Weak Negative Correlation ◽  
Void Volumes

The lateral enlargement perpendicular to the compressive direction for small thin boards of Cryptomeria japonica was investigated to evaluate the effects of density and compressive directions to the radial (plane-sawn board) and 45 degrees of tilt to the radial (45º sawn board). Samples were impregnated with 200 and 20,000 molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG). The enlargement perpendicular to the fiber direction with deformation was obtained for heartwood and sapwood specimens treated only with PEG20,000. The compression ratio of specimens treated with PEG 20,000 exceeded the void volumes regardless of the wood density. Enlarged specimens of both sapwood and heartwood showed the inflection points in the force-compression ratio curve and no correlation between the compressive directions and lateral enlargement of specimens. In the local area showing the largest deformation, however, a weak positive correlation from plane-sawn boards and weak negative correlation from 45º sawn boards between the angles of compressive direction to growth ring and lateral enlargement were derived. Microfocus X-ray computer tomography in these areas showed the different morphological compressive deformations. The cells in the 45º sawn board were forced out due to each cell moving, whereas the radially arranged ones in the plane sawn board buckled under compression.

CELL-WALL LIGNIN CONTENT RELATED TO TRACHEID DIMENSIONS IN DROUGHT-SENSITIVE AUSTRIAN PINE (PINUS NIGRA)

IAWA Journal ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Gindl
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Lignin Concentration ◽  
Wall Area ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Cell Dimensions ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Annual Distribution

The intra-annual distribution of cell-wall lignin concentration was determined in Austrian pine tree rings and compared with tracheid diameter, lumen width, cell wall thickness and proportion of cell wall area. Lignin concentration was highly correlated with all tracheid dimensions, but only the proportion of cell wall area exhibited a direct statistically significant relationship. Since cell dimensions in Austrian pine are subjected to the indirect and direct influences of the water status of trees, the negative correlation between cellular lignin content and the proportion of cell wall area is attributed to an indirect effect of water stress on lignification in pine tracheids.

Chaparral growth-ring analysis as an indicator of stand biomass development

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellie A. Uyeda ◽  
Douglas A. Stow ◽  
John F. O'Leary ◽  
Christina Tague ◽  
Philip J. Riggan
Keyword(s):  
Growth Ring ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Long Time

Chaparral wildfires typically create even-aged stands of vegetation that grow quickly in the first 2 decades following a fire. Patterns of this growth are important for understanding ecosystem productivity and re-establishment success, but are logistically challenging to measure over long time periods. We tested the utility of a novel method of using shrub growth rings to estimate stand-level biomass accumulation at an annual time scale in southern California chaparral. We examined how temporal variation in precipitation and spatial variation in solar irradiation influence that accumulation. Using field measurements and a relationship between stem basal area and aboveground biomass, we estimated current biomass levels in an 11-year-old chaparral stand, and used growth-ring diameters to estimate growth in each year from age 4 to 11 years. We found that annual growth as measured by shrub growth rings tracked closely with patterns of annual precipitation, but not with time since fire. Solar irradiation was not found to be a significant covariate with total biomass by plot, possibly due to sampling area limitations. The close relationship of annual biomass accumulation with annual precipitation indicates that shrub growth-ring measurements can provide a useful metric of stand-level recovery.

Hydraulic Conductivity in Trunk Xylem of Elm, Ulmus Americana

IAWA Journal ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
George S. Ellmore ◽  
Frank W. Ewers
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Fluid Transport ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Ulmus Americana ◽  
Xylem Transport ◽  
Flow Through

The notion that most xylem transport in stems of ring-porous trees occurs in the outermost growth ring requires experimental support. Significance of this ring is challenged by workers who find tracer dyes appearing in 4 to 8 growth rings rather than in only the outermost increment. We test the hypothesis that the outermost growth ring is of overriding significance in fluid transport through stems of Ulmus, a ring-porous tree. Fluid flow through the outermost ring was quantified by removing that ring, calculating gravity flow rates (hydraulic conductivity at 10.13 kPa m-1 ), and by tracing the transport pathway through control and experimental stem segments. From measurements corroborating theoretical calculations based on Poiseuille's law, over 90% of fluid flow through the stem occurs through the outermost ring. Remaining rings combine to account for less than 10% of xylem transport. As a result of dependence upon transport in the most superficial xylem, ring-porous trees such as elm, oak, ash, and chestnut are particularly susceptible to xylem pathogens entering from the bark.

An assessment of the relationship between tree-ring counts and basal girth of high-altitude populations of Eucalyptus pauciflora (Myrtaceae)

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libby Rumpff ◽  
Seraphina C. Cutler ◽  
Ian Thomas ◽  
John W. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
National Park ◽  
Linear Growth ◽  
Growth Ring ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Growth Rings ◽  
Regression Methods ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
The Relationship

We investigated the relationship between the number of growth rings (a surrogate for approximate age of stems) and basal girth for Eucalyptus pauciflora (Maiden & Blakely) L.A.S.Johnson & Blaxell. Using basal-girth measurements and growth-ring counts obtained from trees felled on ski slopes at three Victorian alpine ski resorts, as well as seedlings destructively sampled from near the tree line on four summits, we modelled the relationship between growth rings and basal girth by using simple linear and non-linear regression methods. We compared our data to growth-ring–basal-girth data collected from low- and high-altitude E. pauciflora woodland stands in Kosciuszko National Park. The relationship between the number of tree rings and basal girth at Victorian sites was non-linear (growth rings = 3.62 × girth0.63, R2 = 0.96). In general, the Victorian and Kosciuszko datasets were in broad agreement, although caution is required when attempting to estimate the age of trees with >115-cm girth. We suggest that the model we have developed can be combined with dendrological techniques to estimate the age of older trees accurately.

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