Shrinkage and collapse in thin sections and blocks of Tasmanian mountain ash regrowth

Summary Total collapse values from the green condition to various equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) were obtained by comparing shrinkage before reconditioning in matched blocks and sections of the wood of Eucalyptus regnans. It was shown that while collapse to 17% EMC comprised the largest portion of total collapse, a significant component, apparently caused by drying stress, developed below 17% EMC. Between 5% EMC and 0% moisture content a collapse recovery of some 1% occurred, seemingly because of changes in drying temperature. After reconditioning, collapse recovery was only partial and a high level of residual collapse remained. It was shown that collapse recovery was highest near the sapwood-heartwood boundary, while residual collapse was highest near the heartwood centre. While residual collapse was weakly negatively correlated with specific gravity, this relationship was not significant after adjustment was made for change in shrinkage after reconditioning in sections. All types of collapse were positively correlated with R-ratios calculated for blocks. However, relationships were not as well defined when R-ratios for sections were employed, the exception being for collapse below 17% EMC which was highly negatively correlated with R. The difference between shrinkage before reconditioning and shrinkage after reconditioning in sections, while totalling near zero, was positively correlated with specific gravity. It was demonstrated that this quantity could not constitute collapse in the traditional sense of collapse of the cell lumens. A possible association with moisture content of the material was discussed.     

Effect of brief presteaming on shrinkage,collapse and other wood-water relationships in Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell

Summary Brief presteaming of green, increment-core segments of mountain ash (E. regnans F. Muell) produced small but significant changes in a number of moisture-shrinkage parameters. Both total volumetric shrinkage and recoverable collapse were significantly greater in presteamed samples, the increase in collapse being largely attributable to an increase in moisture content after reconditioning (M_r). The change in shrinkage after reconditioning also was significantly related to changes in M_r. The change in M_r was interpreted as reflecting altered permeability in presteamed material and was shown to be negatively related to estimated residual collapse. Initial moisture content and per cent saturation showed a highly significant decrease after presteaming, while green volume showed a small but significant increase. Neither the estimated intersection point, unit shrinkage nor the R-ratio were significantly different after presteaming. However, the unit shrinkage-specific gravity relationship was changed by presteaming such that it more closely complied with Stamm's approximation.The author expresses his appreciation to Dr. Alan Miller for assistance with statistical analysis and to Mr. Chris McEvoy for technical assistance     

The effect of boiling on shrinkage,collapse and other wood-water properties in core segments of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell

Summary Preboiling and drying wood samples of Eucalyptus regnans has shown that while in the heartwood shrinkage before reconditioning increased as a linear function of the logarithm of boiling time (B_L), in the sapwood it decreased. These changes were interpreted as reflecting changes in green permeability through extractive modification which, for the sapwood, were sufficient to overcome any weakening of the cell walls through heat effects; in the heartwood, however, cell wall degradation apparently overshadowed any collateral increase in permeability, thus causing an increase in collapse.Shrinkage after reconditioning described a cubic function with respect to B_L and showed an overall reduction which was greatest after 16 minutes boiling time. Correspondingly, recoverable collapse was greatly increased through preboiling; it was shown that per cent collapse recovery in the heartwood could be increased by more than one third that of controls by preboiling for 8 minutes. The possibilities for industry application are considered.Moisture content after reconditioning (M_r) was greatest after about two minutes preboiling, then declined to be less than the control after 16 minutes. Change in shrinkage after reconditioning and collapse were shown to be significantly related to change in M_r. It was suggested that while M_r may reflect relative permeabilities after reconditioning, this may not apply to permeability in the green condition.Additional parameters derived from the data, viz. the intersection point, unit shrinkage, the R-ratio, collapse-free shrinkage, total collapse and residual collapse described mostly significant, cubic relationships with the logarithm of the boiling time. Generally, the major inflection point of regression curves occurred after 8 or 16 minutes boiling.The author expresses his appreciation to Margaret Walker for technical assistance     

Shrinkage and collapse in thin sections and blocks of Tasmanian mountain ash regrowth

Summary The relationship between the R-ratio (the change in external volume per change in associated volume of water) and specific gravity in the wood of E. regnans was shown to be negatively significant for blocks but not significant for sections. The difference arose because of disproportionately high shrinkage in blocks, especially at low specific gravity, and only relatively small differences in fibre saturation point between the two groups.Estimates of progressive lumen change, based on green volume, were calculated using R. It was shown that, for sections, lumen volume increased from green to 5% EMC and then decreased to 0% moisture content; conversely, in blocks, lumen volume decreased to 5% EMC and then increased substantially to 0%. It was suggested that, in blocks, a recovery in the final stages of drying may have caused the reversal in lumen shrinkage. Correspondingly, it was suggested that such changes may be related to the general, non-linear behaviour of external shrinkage near 0% moisture content.Because reconditioned wood may generally contain residual collapse, or may be otherwise modified by the reconditioning process, it was suggested that care should be exercised in the interpretation of results so derived.The authors wish to thank Dr. Aleck Hunter for mathematical assistance     

Collapse,volumetric shrinkage,specific gravity and extractives in Eucalyptus and other species

Summary An examination of shrinkage behaviour in a range of tree species has demonstrated clear differences between eucalypts and other species with respect to the volumetric shrinkage (S)/specific gravity () ratio. The equation S=f proposed by Stamm (1935a, 1952) to relate this ratio to the fibre saturation point (f) was inapplicable in eucalypts, both before reconditioning, where a highly negatively significant linear correlation was observed between S and , and after reconditioning where the correlation was not significant and the regression line indicated S to be nearly constant. Collapse was found to be highly negatively correlated with specific gravity in the eucalypt species and evidently was primarily responsible for the negative S/ relationship before reconditioning.In non-eucalypts S and were highly positively correlated, but the regression line did not pass through the origin and the slope was 10 to 14% less than the value of 28% suggested by Stamm for f. Only when the regression line was artificially forced through zero did the slope approach postulated fibre saturation point values. A power function was proposed as representing a more reasonable fit of the data.In line with these analyses, unit shrinkage (S_u) was shown not to be equivalent to . This lack of equivalence was expressed as S_u divided by basic density () which was termed the R-ratio and which was shown to be equal to the change in volume during shrinkage (or swelling) divided by the associated change in the weight of an equivalent volume of water. R was seldom equal to one, as required by the Stamm formula, and was negatively correlated with specific gravity in both eucalypts and non-eucalypts. A comparison of regression equations showed R values for eucalypts to be significantly different from those of non-eucalypts. Possible uses for the R-ratio were considered.     

Decomposition and phosphorus release from organic residues as affected by residue quality and added inorganic phosphorus

The combined use of organic residue and inorganic fertiliser-phosphorus (P) is appropriate in meeting both the short and long-term P requirement of crops. To assess the influence of added inorganic fertiliser-P on the processes of decomposition and P release from the residue and the relationships with quality, prunings of Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephela, Senna siamea, Acacia mangium and Paraserienthus falcataria were incubated without and with added inorganic fertiliser-P for 56 days. Soil was added only as inoculum. Decomposition rate and amounts of acid extractable-P (P release) were in the same order: G. sepium >S. siamea > L. leucocephela >P. falcataria > A. mangium. Unlike the other residues, A. mangium released no P despite the loss of half its mass during the 8 weeks of incubation. The residue P content correlated with P release. However, decomposition rate did not correlate with residue P content but with the lignin, polyphenol and cellulose content, and ratios to P. These ratios were negatively correlated with P release suggesting that lignin and polyphenol contents influence P release more when the residue-P content is low. Results suggest that rate of decomposition influences the release of P. The critical residue P content for P release was estimated to be 0.12% < P < 0.19%. Added P had no effect on decomposition and P release from the residues.     

Shrinkage and collapse in thin sections and blocks of Tasmanian mountain ash regrowth

Summary Shrinkage and moisture content measurements for thin sections of Eucalyptus regnans have shown that although total volumetric shrinkage was positively correlated with specific gravity, the relationship did not conform to the general equation s = f (Stamm 1935, 1952) in that the straight regression line was significantly different from a line passing through the origin. This contrasted with the relationship between shrinkage from 17% EMC to 0% moisture content and specific gravity which, in principle, complied with the Stamm formula. The discrepancy arose because shrinkage from the green condition to 17% EMC was negatively related to specific gravity owing to the high variability of the measured fibre saturation point and its negative correlation with specific gravity. These observations were affirmed in a comparison of unit shrinkage-specific gravity regressions where relationships were positively significant but the regression constants were not.Shrinkage behaviour in blocks of E. regnans did not comply with the Stamm formula although the average fibre saturation point (41.8%) was not significantly different from that for sections (38.2%). The near similarity derived from a significantly greater unit shrinkage in blocks (0.49) than that in sections (0.30). It was suggested that the much greater external shrinkage in blocks contained a significant increment of cell collapse induced by drying stress below the fibre saturation point.The authors wish to thank Dr. Allan Miller for statistical assistance and Dr. Aleck Hunter for mathematical assessment     

Effect of mean moisture content on the steam reconditioning of collapsed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus regnans</Emphasis>

Sixteen quarter-sawn boards (100 × 40 mm²) of regrowth Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash) were conditioned to various moisture contents to investigate the effect of mean moisture content on collapse recovery. The results support the recommendation that boards should be reconditioned at a mean moisture content of between 15 and 20%. It is likely that the actual amount of collapse recovery was nearly as good for moisture contents up to about 25%. The main disadvantage with reconditioning boards with a moisture content of between 20 and 25% was the additional normal shrinkage that occurs because of the early reduction or removal of drying stresses. The samples in this study were dried under mild conditions for long periods of time to minimise the presence of moisture gradients.     

Modelling moisture-related mechanical properties of wood Part I: Properties of the wood constituents

Summary By starting with simple concepts of the molecular structure and building up through the various levels of organisation in the wood cell wall it is possible to construct a model that simultaneously predicts the variation with moisture content change of both the longitudinal Young's modulus and longitudinal shrinkage of wood. To do this it is first necessary to define the stiffness and swelling characteristics of the lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose constituents of the wood as moisture content changes. It is suggested here that it is the bound fraction of the sorbed water that is responsible for the changes in swelling stress as well as for change in stiffness in the lignin and hemicellulose. The magnitudes of the stiffness of each of the constituents appear to be quite closely circumscribed by experimental values for longitudinal Young's modulus and shrinkage of wood and it is apparent that the stiffness characteristics of the in situ constituents are compatible with available experimental evidence for extracted lignin and hemicellulose and for native cellulose.     

Effect of pre-drying schedule ramping on collapse recovery and internal checking with Victorian Ash eucalypts

Matched sample boards from 20 quarter-sawn boards of Victorian Ash (Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell and E. delegatensis R.T. Baker) were dried using three different levels of ramped pre-drying schedules to investigate the effects of moisture gradients on collapse recovery and internal checking. Prior to reconditioning, most wet cores were found in highly collapsed boards with low density. Reducing the gradients in these boards is crucial for recovering collapse and closing internal checks. If time allows the boards to be equilibrated prior to steam reconditioning, a target mean moisture content of ≤20% with a moisture gradient of close to 5% (core to surface moisture content) is likely to recover slightly more collapse than targeting a mean moisture content close to ≥15%. However, if time or kiln restraints limit equilibration it is likely to be better to target a percentage moisture content of closer to 15% in order to ensure that the core to surface moisture gradients are below 8–10%. The slight reduction in collapse recovery with this second approach is less important than the possibility that collapse and internal checks in the centre of boards with wet cores will not be closed. Care needs to be used with this latter approach not to over-dry some boards, since moisture contents below 15% will progressively reduce collapse recovery. For boards within these moisture content guidelines, the application of heat, rather than moisture pick-up, appears to be the most important component of the steaming reconditioning process. Hence, steaming only needs to be undertaken for long enough to heat the core of the board close to the target temperature of 100°C. A simple method for estimating this heat-up time for different thicknesses and species was demonstrated based on a key dimensionless group for heat transfer, the heat-transfer Fourier number.     

Relationship between fibre morphology and shrinkage of wood

Summary This is a study on the shrinkage of wood representing the wide range of morphology variation in leaning trees. It involved 13 trees of Eucalyptus regnans, one of Eucalyptus sieberi and four of Pinus radiata, and specimens taken at close intervals around the circumference of each. Data indicated a systematic modulation, between extremes at upper and lower sides of each stem, in longitudinal growth strains, relative proportions of thin, medium and thick-walled fibres, microfibril angle in the S₂ layer of these, and both Klason and acid-soluble lignin content. Analyses indicated that the microfibril angle in S₂ was a prime factor in influencing both longitudinal and volumetric shrinkage reactions; proportion of thick-walled fibres in the tissue, thickness of S₂ relative to S₁, and variations in lignification also were involved. Unusually thick-walled fibres were associated with visco-elastic strain recovery effects, which could form a substantial part of dimensional changes apparently attributable to shrinkage.Relevant to 10 of the E. regnans trees in this study, appreciation is expressed to three colleagues for providing access to the detailed data on strain, cell wall thickness, and volumetric shrinkage involved in their published study [Nicholson, J. E., Hillis, W. E., and Ditchburne, N. 1975]. By prior arrangement to minimize duplication of effort, their data were derived from specimens from those trees that were involved in this study.     

水杨酸诱导山茶抗灰斑病的作用及生理生化响应

采用载玻片萌发法测定水杨酸(SA)对山茶灰斑病菌的影响。浓度为0～5mmol.L-1的SA对山茶灰斑病菌的孢子萌发没有抑制作用,其诱发抗病性可持续10～15天,诱导最佳间隔期为3天。用SA喷雾涂布叶片诱导山茶抗性,植株内丙二醛、木质素、可溶性蛋白含量等生化指标对山茶灰斑病菌诱导信号有不同响应。MDA含量在一定时间范围内减少,膜脂的过氧化程度降低,但随着处理时间的延长,这种诱导抗性的作用逐渐减弱,且在不同浓度处理间存在差异,在诱导并挑战接种的处理中,各处理表现为初期低于对照、后期缓慢上升;诱导并挑战接种的处理中,木质素含量的变化趋势与只诱导处理基本相似,高浓度诱导的木质素积累量大于低浓度;诱导并挑战接种处理的可溶性蛋白含量与只诱导处理也表现出相同的变化规律,诱导并挑战接种处理的可溶性蛋白含量比只诱导的处理和对照高。生化反应与病情指数的相关性分析表明:MDA、木质素含量与病情指数达到显著水平(P<0.05)。     

Exploitation of polyphenol-rich pine barks for potent antioxidant activity

The phenolic composition of pine bark from a variety of Pinus species was estimated by measuring Klason lignin, acid-soluble lignin, and a 1% NaOH extract. Polyphenol contents of hot water extracts from pine bark were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and the vanillin-H₂SO₄ assay. Among the pine bark varieties investigated, Pinus radiata bark showed the highest polyphenol content and potent antioxidant activity. Pinus rigida bark was also a usable polyphenol-rich source, whereas Pinus densiflora bark had a low yield (5.1%) of hot water extract, although it showed potent antioxidant activity. Correlations between proanthocyanidin content in pine bark and antioxidant activity were observed. The results suggested that proanthocyanidin was the crucial contributor to potent antioxidant activity in pine bark. The publication of this article was made possible by an Emachu Research Fund. The authors are grateful for the fund.     

Leaf quality of selected hedgerow species at two canopy ages in the derived savanna zone of West Africa

Prunings in hedgerow intercropping systems are a potential source of organic matter and their quality is an important characteristic driving decomposition and nutrient release. To determine the potential range of residue characteristics and the impact of canopy age on those, selected characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, and Senna siamea hedgerow leaf residues were determined for young (5–10 weeks) and old (39–47 weeks) hedgerow canopies in six sites, representative in terms of soil for the derived savanna zone of West-Africa. The N content of the Leucaena and Senna residues decreased with age (from 4.8 to 3.9% and from 4.1 to 3.0%, respectively, while the N content of the Gliricidia residues remained constant (3.9%). The P content of all species decreased with age (from 0.30 to 0.20%, on average). The lignin content of the Leucaena residues increased, and their polyphenol content decreased with age, while for the Senna residues only an increase in polyphenol content with canopy age was evident. Neither the lignin nor the polyphenol content of the Gliricidia leaf residues was markedly affected by canopy age. For all species, the P and ADF content were positively correlated with the ash and lignin content, respectively. The N content of the Leucaena and Senna residues was positively correlated with their P content while the lignin content of the same species was negatively correlated with the polyphenol content. Because of the low variation in certain residue characteristics between sites, the presented data and equations could potentially be used to reasonably estimate those characteristics if no other information is available. For other characteristics, such as polyphenol contents, measurements are preferable in view of the relatively high variation encountered.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ultraviolet microspectrophotometric investigation of the distribution of lignin in Prunus jamasakura differentiated on a three-dimensional clinostat

To examine the effect of gravity on lignin content and deposition in plant cells, we used ultraviolet (UV) microspectrophotometry and chemical methods to investigate the secondary xylem of Prunus jamasakura grown on a three-dimensional (3D) clinostat, which simulates microgravity. The stem of the 3D-clinostat specimens elongated with bending and the width of their secondary phloem increased. The UV absorbance of the 3D-clinostat specimens at 278 nm was higher than that of the control specimens, which were grown on the ground, in the wood fiber cell corner middle lamella, compound middle lamella, and fiber secondary wall; the UV absorbance in the vessel secondary wall did not differ between the specimens. The lignin content in the stem, including the bark, of the 3D-clinostat specimens, as determined using an acetyl bromide method, was less than that of the control specimens. In the specimens that differentiated on a 3D clinostat, the amount of lignin in the wood fibers increased, while the proportion of the lignified xylem in the stem decreased relative to control values.     

Chemical characteristics of surfaces of hardwood and softwood deteriorated by weathering

The factors that cause weather-induced deterioration of wood surfaces were determined by chemical and spectroscopic analyses. Albizzia (Paraserianthes falcata Becker.) and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) were exposed to two temperate conditions of natural weathering with and without rainfall and to accelerated conditions of artificial weathering coupled with ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and water flashing. Infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that the oxidative reaction of lignin was observed under all conditions of weathering for both wood species. However, a marked decrease in lignin and hemicellulose content were recognized when albizzia woods were exposed to weathering with water. Lignin content in the softwood sugi did not decrease as much as in albizzia even in the presence of water, but the modification of lignin macromolecules was assumed to be accelerated by water, as seen by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These results showed that the presence of water promotes the weathering deterioration of wood under UV irradiation.     

Decomposition and nutrient release from leaves,twigs and roots of three alley-cropped tree legumes in central Togo

The decomposition of leaves, twigs and roots of two diameter classes (<1.5 mm, 1.5–5 mm) were examined in an alley cropping experiment withGliricidia sepium, Calliandra calothyrsus andSenna sianea in the subhumid savanna of Central Togo using the litterbag technique. The effect of the application of leaves and twigs as mulch or green manure was examined. Gliricidia showed the most rapid mass loss. For all species, leaves decomposed faster than roots. Twigs had the lowest decomposition rate except forCalliandra. The two diameter classes of roots decomposed differently in the three species:Gliricidia fine roots decomposed faster than its coarser root fraction, the coarse roots ofSenna decomposed faster than the fine roots.Termites influenced the mass loss of twigs and roots to varying extents for the different species. In the case of twigs this was markedly influenced by the mode of application: green manure showed more termite frass than mulch.Nutrient release resembled the mass loss patterns of the prunings except for K, which was leached independently from mass loss. The release of the different nutrients was in the order CaGliricidia andSenna seemed to be best for mulch and green manure production at our site.     

Behavior of the cellulose microfibril in shrinking woods

We measured the longitudinal and tangential shrinking processes in wood specimens from Chamaecyparis obtuse Endl. with different microfibril angles (MFAs). The shape of the shrinking curve was compared with the MFA. Only the longitudinal shrinking process of specimens with a small MFA clearly showed nonlinearity, and the degree of nonlinearity increased as the MFA decreased. In contrast, the tangential shrinking process and the longitudinal shrinking process of compression wood with a large MFA were linear. The nonlinearity is probably caused by the longitudinal shrinkage of the noncrystalline region of the cellulose microfibril (CMF) in regions of low moisture content during water desorption. When the moisture content is high, the matrix substance in the cell wall begins to dry; however, the shrinkage in the chain direction is restrained by the rigid CMF. As the wood dries further, the noncrystalline region of the CMF embedded in the matrix substance begins to shrink. Because the longitudinal mechanical behavior of wood with a small MFA is greatly affected by a rigid CMF, longitudinal shrinkage increases suddenly at about 10% moisture content; as a result, the shrinking process shows nonlinearity.     

The effect of lignin on the bending properties and fixation by cooling of wood

To clarify the effects of lignin on the fixation of bending deformation by cooling, cooling set for delignified woods with various lignin residues were investigated to compare with mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. Bending tests showed that steep reductions occurred in the modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture with delignification during the initial stage of delignification. The dynamic viscoelastic measurements revealed that the peak temperature of tan δ due to micro-Brownian motion of lignin was reduced with delignification, and the peak disappeared in the temperature range of 5°–100°C for the specimens that had lost more than 21% of their weight. On the other hand, no clear change in residual set was found in the range of 0%–15% of weight loss in spite of a marked reduction in lignin content. Subsequently, set decreased steeply for the specimens delignified beyond 15% of weight loss. It was suggested that cooling set is not determined solely by lignin content but is influenced by changes in the quality of lignin due to delignification. Lignin quality affects the balance of the elastic potential to recover from deformation and its viscosity, which is an indication of resistance against flow. Part of this report was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, August 2007     

IAA对慈竹木质素和综纤维动态积累的调控效应

以慈竹为材料，通过叶面喷施不同浓度的IAA，研究其对慈竹木质素和综纤维积累的动态调控效应，以期为慈竹的优质栽培提供理论依据。结果表明，喷施IAA可以改变木质素含量的动态积累趋势，较低浓度的IAA对慈竹木质素的积累具有抑制作用，而较高浓度的IAA对木质素含量的积累具有促进作用。经IAA处理后，慈竹综纤维动态积累呈上升的趋势，IAA对慈竹综纤维含量具有明显的促进作用，其浓度与综纤维含量呈明显的正相关关系。