Sorption and thermodynamic properties of buried juvenile <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L. wood aged 1,170 ± 40 BP

The hygroscopicity and thermodynamic properties of buried juvenile Pinus sylvestris L. wood with an age of 1,170 ± 40 BP were compared with the corresponding values of juvenile wood of the same species from recently cut trees. The 35 and 50°C isotherms were plotted following the saturated salts method and subsequently fitted in accordance with the GAB model. The isotherms were then compared by means of the hysteresis coefficients. X-ray diffractograms were used to analyse the crystal structure of the cellulose. The effect of time on the buried wood caused hemicelluloses degradation and a decrease in the crystallinity index and the crystallite length, resulting in an increase in the proportion of amorphous zones. Because of this, the equilibrium moisture contents of the buried wood are higher than of the recent wood, both in adsorption and desorption. In terms of the thermodynamic properties, the heat involved is greater in the buried wood than in the recent wood.     

Hydrostatic pressure and temperature dependence of wood moisture sorption isotherms

By expressing wood moisture content data as a function of adsorption energy, an interesting scaling capability is obtained, wherefrom the general hydrostatic pressure and temperature dependence of wood moisture content is determined. The scaling law is fully consistent with the thermodynamics of swelling. It can be used to transform room condition sorption isotherms to other temperatures and hydrostatic pressures, provided that the wood matrix is not irreversibly modified. A special procedure is suggested for the case of an irreversibly changing wood matrix, as in thermal modification and thermo-hydro-mechanical treatments. Using the present scaling theory, several fundamental aspects of wood moisture sorption are explained, such as the absence of a significant quantity of strongly bound wood moisture, the internal stress generation by sorption hysteresis in the wood cell wall, and the reason for the reversible disappearance of the sigmoid shape of the sorption isotherm at higher temperature. The results of this research may be useful (a) for transformation of known sorption data to other conditions, notably where in situ moisture measurements are difficult to perform and (b) to quantify the effects of internal stresses in the ultrastructure of the cell wall on moisture content.     

Differences in wood properties between juvenile wood and mature wood in 10 species grown in China

 This study examined the intrinsic differences in various wood properties between juvenile wood and mature wood in 10 major reforestation species in China. Comparisons between juvenile wood and mature wood were made in both plantation- and naturally-grown trees. Considerable differences in most wood properties were found both between plantation-grown juvenile wood and mature wood, and between naturally-grown juvenile wood and mature wood. This suggests that wood properties of plantation-grown trees, to a large extent, depends on their juvenile wood contents, and can thus be manipulated effectively through rotation age. In general, the longer the rotation age, the lower the juvenile wood content, and the stronger the mechanical properties of the plantation-grown woods. However, the differences between juvenile wood and mature wood vary with wood properties and species. In general, juvenile wood and mature wood have less difference in chemical composition than in anatomical and physico-mechanical properties. Compared to the softwoods studied, the hardwoods appear to have less difference between juvenile wood and mature wood. Received 25 June 1999     

Wood properties of juvenile and mature heartwood in Robinia pseudoacacia L.

The aim of this study is to characterise the properties of juvenile and mature heartwood of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Content, composition and the subcellular distribution of heartwood extractives were studied in 14 old-growth trees from forest sites in Germany and Hungary as well as in 16 younger trees of four clone types. Heartwood extractives (methanol and acetone extraction) were analysed by HPLC-chromatography. UV microspectrophotometry was used to topochemically localise the extractives in the cell walls. The natural durability of the juvenile and mature heartwood was analysed according to the European standard EN 350-1. Growth as well as chemical analyses showed that, based on extractives content, the formation of juvenile wood in black locust is restricted to the first 10–20 years of cambial growth. In mature heartwood, high contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were present, localised in high concentrations in the cell walls and cell lumen of axial parenchyma and vessels. In juvenile wood, the content of these extractives is significantly lower. Juvenile wood had a correspondingly lower resistance to decay by Coniophora puteana (brown rot fungus) and Coriolus versicolor (white rot fungus) than mature heartwood.     

油松株内幼龄材与成熟材材性的比较研究

本文就中条山油松株内幼龄材与成熟材材性差异的比较研究,讨论对幼龄期划分的依据。根据木材解剖特征、物理力学性质的径向变异规律,确定其幼龄期为14年。随着树干高度的增加,油松木材幼龄期逐渐缩短、株内幼龄材范围及所占断面上的比例变小。株内幼龄材与成熟材材性差异显著。幼龄材管胞长度短、直径小,胞壁薄,微纤丝角度大,生长轮较宽,晚材率低,浸提物含量高,基本密度较大。幼龄材的力学强度远远小于成熟材。     

Variation in tracheid length in blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson)

Summary Radial pattern of variation in the first-formed earlywood tracheid length in blue pine shows that it increases outwards from the pith at first rapidly up to the 10th ring, then more slowly up to about the 40th ring and thereafter it remains more or less constant. It is correlated significantly and positively with both age and distance from the pith up to 40 years. In the mature wood zone i.e. after 40 years, tracheid length is not affected by either age or distance from the pith. The mean tracheid length of mature wood is significantly and positively correlated with the mean tracheid length of juvenile wood and also with the tracheid length of each of the juvenile wood rings. Based on the results of this study some guidelines for sampling are proposed. Trees with greater than 51 cm d.b.h. or above 40 years of age can be compared by sampling only four outermost consecutive mature wood annual rings; and those with less than 51 cm d.b.h. or below 40 years of age can be compared by sampling any of the juvenile wood rings.A part of Ph. D. thesis submitted to Himachal Pradesh University, Simla-171 005 (India), under the supervision of Dr. K. K. Jain, Associate Professor. The author is thankful to Dr. Jain for constant encouragement and to the University Grants Commission (India) for financial assistance     

天然林五角槭木材材质径向变异规律初探

以天然林五角槭的木材解剖性质为研究对象,分析其株内木材材质径向变异规律,对幼龄材与成熟材进行初步界定。结果表明:细胞壁厚、壁腔比、胞壁率和径、弦向直径幼龄期波动较大,成熟期波动减弱;木纤维长度符合Pan-shinⅠ模型,幼龄材拟合度较好;组织比量符合y=aebx变异模型;幼龄材和成熟材的界定年限为28～33a之间。     

Age- and position-related changes in hydraulic versus mechanical dysfunction of xylem: inferring the design criteria for Douglas-fir wood structure

We do not know why trees exhibit changes in wood characteristics as a function of cambial age. In part, the answer may lie in the existence of a tradeoff between hydraulic properties and mechanical support. In conifers, longitudinal tracheids represent 92% of the cells comprising the wood and are involved in both water transport and mechanical support. We used three hydraulic parameters to estimate hydraulic safety factors at several vertical and radial locations in the trunk and branches: vulnerability to cavitation; variation in xylem water potential (psi); and xylem relative water content. The hydraulic safety factors for 12 and 88 percent loss of conductivity (S(H12) and S(H88), representing the hydraulic safety factors for the air entry point and full embolism point, respectively) were determined. We also estimated the mechanical safety factor for maximum tree height and for buckling. We estimated the dimensionless hydraulic and mechanical safety factors for six seedlings (4 years old), six saplings (10 years old) and six mature trees (> 110 years old) of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Over the natural range of psi, S(H12) decreased linearly from treetop to a minimum of 0.95 at the tree base. Young and mature trees had S(H12) values 1.4 and 1.3 times higher, respectively, at their tips (juvenile wood) than at their bases (mature wood). Modeling analyses indicated that if trees were made entirely of mature wood, S(H12) at the stem base would be only 0.7. The mechanical safety factor was 1.2 times higher for the base of the tree than for the rest of the tree. The minimum mechanical safety factor-1.6 for the critical buckling height and 2.2 for the critical buckling load-occurred at the base of the live crown. Modeling analysis indicated that if trees were made only of mature wood, these values would increase to 1.7 and 2.3, respectively. Hydraulic safety factors had values that were less than half those for mechanical safety factors, suggesting that wood structure in Douglas-fir has evolved primarily as a result of selection for hydraulic safety rather than mechanical safety. The results suggest that forest managers must consider the role of juvenile wood in tree physiology to avoid producing plantations vulnerable to drought.     

Fibre morphological effects on mechano-sorptive creep

The increased creep rate of paper under load during moisture cycling conditions as compared to that at high constant humidity is a problem in the use of packaging materials. In order to investigate the influence of morphological factors of the fibres on the occurrence and magnitude of this phenomenon, i.e. the occurrence of mechano-sorptive creep, studies on wood fibres isolated from different parts of spruce wood were performed. Thus, creep properties were studied on earlywood and latewood fibres from both juvenile wood and mature wood. In general, latewood fibres showed a higher degree of mechano-sorptive creep than earlywood fibres, and mature wood showed a higher degree of mechano-sorptive creep than juvenile fibres. The difference in mechano-sorptive creep rate between different fibres was shown to be correlated to the differences in fibril angle. The smaller the fibril angle the higher was the mechano-sorptive creep ratio. It was suggested that at fibril angles approaching 45° wood fibres do not exhibit mechano-sorptive creep.     

Radial and between-family variations of the microfibril angle and the relationships with bending properties in Picea jezoensis families

With emphasis on tree breeding for wood quality in Picea jezoensis, we aimed to evaluate radial and between-family variations in the microfibril angle (MFA) of the S₂ layer in the latewood tracheids in 10 open-pollinated families of 43-year-old P. jezoensis trees. In addition, the relationships between MFA/wood density with the modulus of elasticity (MOE) or modulus of rupture (MOR) were investigated. Significant differences in MFA between families were found from the pith toward the bark. MFA showed higher values around the pith area, although some families showed relatively lower values than others around this area. In addition, due to a larger coefficient of variations of MFA near the pith, the potential for juvenile wood MFA improvement may be greater compared with mature wood. MOE was correlated with MFA in juvenile wood and with wood density in mature wood, whereas MOR was mainly correlated with wood density at radial positions in both woods. Therefore, to improve the MOE and MOR of P. jezoensis wood, both MFA and wood density would be factors to consider in both juvenile and mature woods. On the other hand, there are indications that, only wood density would be an important criterion for improving mature wood properties.     

白橡热压干燥材等温吸湿特性研究

以白橡热压干燥材为研究对象,利用动态水分吸附仪研究了不同热压温度干燥处理后白橡木材和未处理对照材的等温吸湿特性,并采用H-H模型拟合;分析热压干燥对木材吸湿特性的降低机理。结果表明:白橡木材等温吸湿线皆为IUPAC Ⅱ型等温吸湿线。在任意相对湿度下,热压干燥材平衡含水率均明显低于对照材,且热压温度越高,平衡含水率降低越明显。H-H模型对白橡木材等温吸湿数据表现出良好的拟合效果。单分子层和多分子层含水率降低共同作用使得热压干燥材吸湿性降低,且相对湿度越高,多分子层水的减少对吸湿性的降低作用越大。与对照材相比,热压干燥材(140、150 ℃和160 ℃)的纤维饱和点推测值分别降低8.89%、11.76%和13.62%。白橡热压干燥材吸湿性降低机理主要为游离羟基等亲水基团含量减少和细胞壁刚度增加等。     

Variation of indole acetic acid (IAA) amounts in cambial-region tissues in 7- and 24-year-old sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) trees

Recently, breeding programs have attempted to produce high growth rates for shorter rotation cycles in plantation trees. In these trees, the ratio of juvenile wood increases; thus, the juvenile wood properties should be improved for structural use. To this end, it is important to understand the influences on juvenile wood properties precisely. In this study, we report on the indole acetic acid (IAA) amounts of juvenile sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) trees in September and compare the IAA amounts to those in mature trees. The IAA amounts at the lower trunks in juvenile trees were significantly larger than those in mature trees and the IAA amounts decreased with tree height. In each stand, except a mature tree stand, there is no significant effect of IAA amounts on latewood width and MFA. However, put together all samples, the latewood width and MFA increased with IAA amounts in samples with IAA <200 ng/cm². The samples at lower trunk in juvenile trees had significantly larger IAA amounts, larger MFA and larger latewood width than the samples in mature trees (p < 0.01). The very large IAA amounts may have a certain relation with juvenile wood properties.     

Nanoindentation of juvenile and mature loblolly pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus taeda</Emphasis> L.) wood fibers as affected by thermomechanical refining pressure

The effects of thermomechanical refining pressures, varying from 2 to 18 bars, on the cell-wall properties of refined wood fibers of a 54-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) with reference to both juvenile (JW) and mature wood (MW) were investigated using nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy. The results of this study indicate that refining pressure plays a significant role in the physical damage sustained by refined wood fibers. No obvious damage was observed in the cell walls of MW fibers refined at 2 and 4 bar. Nanocracks (<500 nm in width) were found in fibers refined at pressures in the range of 2–12 bar for JW and 6–12 bar for MW, and micro cracks (>3,000 nm in width) were found in both MW and JW fibers subjected to a refining pressure of 14 and 18 bar. The micro damage to the fibers refined at higher pressures was more severe inside the lumen than on the surface of the fibers, and the lumen or S₃ layer was significantly damaged. The elastic modulus, hardness, and creep resistance of MW fibers were higher than those of the JW fibers subjected to the same refining-pressure conditions. The elastic modulus and hardness decreased, whereas nanoindentation creep increased, with increasing refining pressure. This study also suggests that lower refining pressures (<4 bar) and higher pressures (>14 bar for MW and >12 bar for JW) should be avoided in the manufacture of fiberboards and wood fiber–polymer composites, because of the lower aspect ratio of the fiber bundles, shorter length of the fibers and fines, and severe damages to the fiber cell walls.     

Effects of radial growth rate on selected indices for juvenile and mature wood of the Japanese larch

To examine the differences between juvenile and mature wood, 12 aged sample trees from two areas of Nagano Prefecture were harvested; and the radial development of tracheid length, the ring density, and the relation of the radial growth rate (observed by ring width) with some selected indices of ring structure were investigated. The results proved that the radial variation of tracheid length with ring number can be described by a logarithmic formula, and both plantations reached the demarcation of juvenile and mature wood at age 18. With the segmented regression method, we also analyzed radial variation of mean density and found that the demarcation of juvenile and mature wood was at age 15 for sample trees from Saku and at age 21 for those from Yabuhara. By using the results of estimates from juvenile and mature wood based on ring density, we found that high growth rates resulted when producing lower-density wood during the juvenile period, but these rates did not occur during the mature period. The basic reason for this phenomenon is the variation in patterns of earlywood and latewood in juvenile and mature wood, respectively. This result advised us that when managing plantations of Japanese larch it is necessary to take different measurements at different growth periods.     

Contributions of Extractives and Lignin to the Fractal Geometry of Internal Wood Surfaces

Internal wood surfaces can be treated as fractals, which are between Euclidean geometry and complete randomness. The fractal dimension Dfs is very informative in investigating the roughness of the internal surfaces of wood. In this study, the water sorption isotherms, including adsorption and desorption isotherm, of untreated, benzene-alcohol extracted and delignified (after benzene-alcohol extracted) spruce (Cuninghamia lanceolata) were measured at 30℃. On the basis of these isotherms, the Dfs values were calculated by FHH equation, which is based on multimolecular sorption. The results showed that both groups of Dfs values (respectively calculated from adsorption and desorption isotherms) of untreated, benzene-alcohol extracted and delignified wood have same order, that is, untreated > benzene-alcohol extracted - delignified. Therefore, the conclusion can be made that the benzene-alcohol extractives have significant contribution to the fractal geometry of internal wood surfaces. Lignin also has influ     

Application of the fractometer for crushing strength: juvenile-mature wood demarcation in Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioids)

The fractometer is a device that breaks a radial increment core along the fiber for the measurement of crushing strength, which is a direct wood quality indicator for structural lumber. In this study, the crushing strength of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay) trees using the fractometer was investigated and the data were used to determine the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood. Segmented regression and variance component analysis were used to estimate the demarcation position. With increasing cambium age, the core wood improves the crushing strength in the outer wood area. Within-tree variations in wood properties were greater than between-tree variations. In this experiment, the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood occurred at an approximate distance of 10.8cm to 13.2cm from the pith at about 18–20 years of cambium age.     

Characterization of juvenile wood to mature wood transition age in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) at different stand densities and sampling heights

The radial pattern of both maximum ring density and ring area of 36 black spruce trees were used to determine the transition age from juvenile wood to mature wood. The data were obtained by X-ray densitometry and both segmented linear and polynomial regressions were used to point out the age of the juvenile wood boundary. Three stand densities (1,790, 2,700 and 3,400 stems/ha) and three sampling heights (2.4, 5.1 and 7.8 m) were studied. Although maximum ring density and ring area presented similar radial patterns, they gave two significantly different results of transition ages. The maximum ring density over-estimated the transition age (17.6 years) in contrast to ring area (14 years). The results show that the transition from juvenile wood to mature wood occurred after 12 years at 7.8 m (versus 13.1 years at a height of 5.1 m, and 17.6 years at 2.4 m). Although transition age occurred later in the high stand density group (21 years), the difference was not significant between the three stand density groups. Nevertheless, transition age remains difficult to determine since no standard definition exists. The transition occurs over years, and most probably a transition wood exists between juvenile wood and mature wood. Estimation of the juvenile wood proportion in volume shows that it remains constant along the stem and it increases with stand density.     

Determination of fiber length and juvenile and mature wood zones in Acer velutinum Boiss. trees grown in Iran

In our investigation we studied fiber lengths and the transition age from juvenile to mature wood in Acer velutinum Boiss. For this purpose, samples from three normal maple trees at a Noshahr site in northern Iran were selected. Disks were cut at breast height. Test samples were taken along a radial direction from the pith to the bark, accounting for every ring during a 48-year period. We used the Franklin method to distinguish between fibers of juvenile and mature wood. The results show that the fiber length increased along the radial direction from the pith to the bark. The transition age between juvenile and mature wood was determined at the 14th annual ring from the pith.     

Growth and wood quality of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) planted in Akita prefecture (II). Juvenile/mature wood determination of aged trees

Variations of certain anatomical and mechanical indices within tree stems of aged sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) trees planted in Akita prefecture were studied. The determination of the juvenile/mature wood boundary was also discussed, and the effects of wood structure on mechanical properties were investigated. On the basis of radial and vertical variation of the anatomical and mechanical indices, modulus of elasticity (MOE)/ shear modulus (G) was chosen as the index for determining the juvenile/mature wood boundary. The increase rates of MOE/G at the points of 1%, 2%, and 3% were discussed. It was found that for aged trees, all three points were thought to be effective for dividing juvenile and mature wood. However, for younger trees, the point of 2% was recommended, which was mostly consistent with the result obtained by the increase rate of 1% for tracheid length (TL). Among mechanical properties, the MOE showed more significant juvenile/mature wood differences than did modulus of rupture (MOR) and . By correlation analysis, it was suggested that microfibril angle largely contributed to the indices of MOE and G, and specific gravity largely contributed to the indices of MOR and .Part of this report was presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Fukuoka, March 2003