Soft X-ray observation of water distribution in the stem ofCryptomeria japonica D. Don II: Types found in wet-area distribution patterns in transverse sections of the stem

Using soft X-ray photography, two-dimensional observations were made of the water distribution within the green stem ofCryptomeria japonica D. Don. Variations in the distribution pattern of the wet area in the horizontal plane of the lower stem were described. The distribution patterns showed extreme variation among individual trees, with broad wet-area distribution types appearing, namely, the regularly distributed wet area and the irregularly distributed wet area. We defined five basic types of wet-area distribution patterns on the basis of their regularity or irregularity. It was concluded that the between-tree variation in the wet-area distribution causes the between-tree variation in the mean moisture content of the heartwood. The distribution patterns of the wet area were similar for individual trees within each plus-tree clone.Part of this paper was presented at 46th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society at Kumamoto, April 1996