Variations in physical and mechanical properties between tension and opposite wood from three tropical rainforest species

Growth strains were measured in situ in nine trees of three species from a French Guiana tropical rainforest in a clearly active verticality restoration process. The aim was to detect tension wood within the samples. Wood specimens were cut in the vicinity of the growth strain measurements in order to determine the microfibril angle and some mechanical and physical properties. As suspected, tensile growth strain was much higher in tension wood zones, as shown by the slightly higher longitudinal modulus of elasticity. Conversely, tension wood showed reduced compression strength. Longitudinal shrinkage was much higher in tension wood than in opposite wood. Clear relationships between the microfibril angle and longitudinal properties were noted in comparison (i) with those observed in gymnosperm compression wood and (ii) with expected relationships from the organization of wood fibres cell wall structure.     

The generation of longitudinal maturation stress in wood is not dependent on diurnal changes in diameter of trunk

A hypothetical mechanism for the generation of maturation stress in wood was tested experimentally. The hypothesis was that the maturation stress could partly originate in a physical mechanism related to daily changes in water pressure and associated diurnal strains. The matrix of lignin and hemicellulose, deposited in the cell wall during the night, would be put in compression by the effect of water tension during the next day. The cellulose framework, crystallizing during the day, would be put in tension by the decrease in tension at night and subsequent cell-wall swelling. This was tested on young saplings of sugi and beech. Half of the saplings were submitted to continuous lighting, which canceled diurnal strains. Saplings were tilted 40 degrees, and their uprighting movement was measured. The uprighting movement is directly due to the production of reaction wood and the concomitant development of large longitudinal maturation stress. It occurred in the continuously lighted plants at least as much as in control plants. We conclude that the generation of longitudinal maturation stress in tension or compression wood is not directly related to variations in water pressure and diurnal strains.     

Growth strain in the trunk and branches of Chamaecyparis formosensis and its influence on tree form

Distributions of growth strains in branches, straight trunks and basal sweeping trunks of Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. trees were measured with strain gauges. Microfibril angles (MFAs) of the S2 layer of the cell wall were measured by the iodine deposition method and their relationships with growth strain examined. The magnitude of the compressive stress on the lower side of trunks with a basal sweep was greater than that of the tensile stress at the surface of straight trunks. However, transverse compressive stress was similar around the trunk regardless of whether normal wood or compression wood was present. The released surface growth strains varied with MFA. At MFAs of 20-25 degrees , growth stress changed from tension to compression, and compressive stress increased dramatically in the compression wood region. Branches suffer bending stress due to self-loading. This stress is superimposed on the growth stress. Growth strains on the upper or lower sides of branches were larger than those in the trunks, suggesting that generation of growth stress on the lower sides of branches with extensive compression wood is affected by the gravitational bending stress due to self-loading. We conclude that branch form is affected by the interaction between the bending moment due to self-loading and that due to the asymmetric distribution of growth stress. Growth strain distribution in a branch differed depending on whether the branch was horizontal, upward bending or downward bending.     

Lignification and peroxidase in tension wood ofEucalyptus viminalis seedlings

Seedlings ofEucalyptus viminalis were grown for 50 days with their stems bent so tension wood would form. Every 10 days the lignin content, monomeric composition, and peroxidase activity in the tension wood were compared with those in the lower side (opposite wood) and in vertically grown controls. The lignin content in the developing tension wood started to decrease after 10 days of bending and kept decreasing for 50 days, whereas those in control plants and opposite wood remained almost unchanged. The yields of syringaldehyde from tension wood by nitrobenzene oxidation increased, and consequently the syringyl/ guaiacyl ratio of the lignin was higher in tension wood than in opposite wood and control plants. The peroxidase ionically bound to the cell walls (IPO) catalyzed oxidation of guaiacol and syringaldazine. The syringaldazineoxidizing activity of IPO from tension wood increased, whereas the activities of IPO from opposite wood and control plants did not show any marked change. In tension wood the increase in syringaldazine-oxidizing activity of IPO was consistent with an increase in the syringaldehyde yield. This suggests that IPO contributes to syringyl lignin deposition as other enzymes involved in the monolignol biosynthesis do in tension wood formation.This study was presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto, April 2000     

杨木应拉木微区结构可视化及化学成分分析

木材微区结构与木材宏观性质密切相关,杨木应拉木与对应木宏观性质存在较大差别,探究杨木应拉木和对应木微区结构和化学成分,可为了解杨木应力木的宏观性质提供理论根据。借助光学显微镜、荧光显微镜、显微拉曼成像光谱仪、透射电镜对杨木应拉木微区结构进行可视化研究,并借助X射线衍射技术和美国可再生能源实验室方法,分析杨木应拉木的微晶尺寸、结晶度以及化学成分。结果表明:杨木应拉木中应拉区和对应区纤维细胞微区结构差异显著。光学显微镜下显示应拉区木纤维中胶质层清晰可见,荧光显微镜和拉曼显微镜下显示胶质层的木质素浓度比对应区低。透射电镜下显示应拉区木纤维细胞壁结构由初生壁、次生壁和胶质层组成,未见次生壁外层,各层的平均厚度分别为0.61,1.22和2.53μm。对应区木纤维为典型的初生壁和次生壁结构,次生壁各层平均厚度分别为0.33,2.28和0.14μm。杨木应拉区纤维素含量(58.91%)比对应区(41.53%)高,木质素含量和半纤维素含量均比对应区的低,应拉区木质素和半纤维素含量分别为21.99%和12.01%,对应区分别为28.10%和17.08%。杨木应拉区结晶度(48.06%)比对应区(41.01%)高,应拉区晶区宽度为2.66 nm,长度为8.84 nm;对应区晶区宽度为2.65 nm,长度为9.87 nm。     

短周期工业材干缩率和干燥应变规律的研究

研究了短周期工业材在干燥过程中木材表层和内部各层干缩率及弹性和塑性应变的变化规律。结果表明,基准硬度水平对应变值的大小和最大变就值的到达时间有显著影响。干燥前期,木材表层伸张弹性应变最大值随着温度和平衡含水率的增加而减少,木材表层塑性应变则随平衡含水率的增加而增加。正确调节基准初期阶段的平衡含水率水平,能有效地控制干燥前期应变最大值,从而达到控制干燥质量的目的。     

Ethylene and tension wood formation in Eucalyptus gomphocephala

Summary Eucalyptus gomphocephala A.DC seedlings grown horizontally for 103 days had less terminal shoot elongation and higher internal and emanated ethylene levels in the basal portion of the stem than seedlings grown vertically under otherwise identical conditions. Horizontal seedlings had greater radial growth in the upper stem half than in the lower half of the basal portion of the stem. Upper halves contained 60–80 percent tension wood by volume, lower halves 0–10 percent tension wood. Radial growth in vertical seedlings was symmetrical, and they contained negligible tension wood. Upper halves of the basal portion of the stem of horizontal seedlings had greater amounts of internal and emanated ethylene than lower halves and vertical seedling halves. Ethylene differences between random halves of vertical seedlings were smaller than differences between upper and lower halves of horizontal seedlings. The data suggest an association between increased ethylene levels and tension wood formation.This work was made possible through the award of a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship and an Honorarium to N. D. Nelson by the Australian-American Educational Foundation and CSIRO Division of Building Research, respectively, and is part of a larger body of research by the authors on hormonal aspects of wood quality in rapidly grown Eucalyptus spp. Appreciation is experssed to Peter Fitzgibbon and Jugo Ilic for competent technical assistance.     

Negative gravitropism and growth stress in GA3-treated branches ofPrunus spachiana Kitamura f.spachiana cv.Plenarosea

One of the roles of growth stress in branch shape formation was investigated using a weeping-type Japanese cherry,Prunus spachiana. Negative released strains, caused by longitudinal tensile growth stresses, were detected in the upper side of gibberellin A₃-treated (GA₃-treated) and control branches. The mean value of the released strain in the upper side of the treated branches was –0.104%, which was larger than the value (–0.067%) observed in the control branches. Both branches formed tension wood in the upper side of the xylem, and the treated branches formed tension wood near the pith as well. This suggested that the treated branches generated larger tensile growth stress from the early growth stages. The successive generation of growth stress from the early growth stages was considered to generate forces large enough to bend the branch upward.     

Comparison of Quality of Pulping and Paper-Making between Normal Wood and Tension Wood of Poplar Clone 107(Populus×euramericana‘Neva’) Tree

Both of straight and inclining poplar clone 107 tree were selected for studying materials in this paper.The optimal pulping conditions was established by orthogonal experimental design both for normal wood and tension wood,and the quality of pulping and paper-making between normal wood and tension wood was compared with each other. Finally,potential application for improving paper quality of tension wood through increasing beating revolutions was discussed.The result showed that the optimal cooking condition for normal wood was alkali concentration 15%,the highest temperature 164℃,time at highest temperature 75 min,and for tension wood it was alkali concentration 13%,the highest temperature 160℃,time at highest temperature 40 min.Path coefficient of effect of alkali concentration both on pulp yield and kappa value was significant at different levels.By comparison between average result of normal wood and tension wood in quality of pulping and paper-making,it was found that tension wood had higher pulping yield and lower kappa value than normal wood. Furthermore,for all mechanical properties of paper, normal wood hold higher value than tension wood, and even near two times than tension wood,such as burst index and tensile index.However,difference of tear index was quite narrow.Result of one way ANOVA showed that difference of burst index and tear index between normal wood and tension wood was significant at the 0.001 level,of tear index was significant at the 0.05 level.Based on observation of cross surface of paper,it was assumed that contribution of gelatinous layer to rigidity of single fiber had hampered collapse and compression of fiber during paper formation,which is essential for exerting combination between fibers in paper.So, mechanical properties of tension wood paper were decreased accordingly.However,owing to high cellulose content of gelatinous layer,tension wood was easier to pulping than normal wood.Mechanical properties of tension wood paper could be improved by increasing beating revolutions,     

Mechano-sorptive creep in pulp fibres and paper

The factors affecting mechano-sorptive creep of wood and paper have been investigated for a long time. It has also been argued that single wood fibres do not exhibit mechano-sorptive creep and that the reasons for the accelerated creep under moisture cycling conditions instead are related to the bonds between the fibres. In order to examine the relevance of this argument, measurements on single pulp fibres of different composition were performed in tension, and the mechano-sorptive creep was compared to that of papers made from the same source of pulp fibres. All fibres tested were found to exhibit an increased creep rate during moisture cycling as compared to constant humidity conditions. Thus, pulp fibres show mechano-sorptive creep and in this sense behave similar to solid wood or paper products made thereof. A linear relation between the creep strain rate during cyclic humidity and the creep strain rate at a constant humidity was also noted for both fibres and paper. This relation was not affected by changes in hemicelluloses content or composition, neither for fibres nor for papers made of these fibres. However, in all cases, papers showed a much higher mechano-sorptive creep than the corresponding fibres they were made of.     

长江滩地立木腐朽杨树与正常杨树生长与材性的比较研究

本文对长江滩地意杨的生长和木材材性进行了初步研究，着重讨论长江滩地立木腐朽杨树与正常杨树在树高、胸径生长的差异，通过回归分析，给出了杨树胸径生长与年龄的回归方程。分析研究腐朽木和正常木在年轮宽度、含水率、木材密度、干缩率等方面的差异。通过扫描电镜观测腐朽木和正常木细胞壁层的差异和菌丝在木材细胞的分布状况。研究结果表明：地势低是导致杨树立木腐朽的直接原因；腐朽对杨树的胸径生长和高生长及木材材性有显著影响；腐朽材内部生材含水率远低于正常材内部生材含水率，这是由于腐朽杨树内部导管比量明显比正常材低导致其输导水分功能减弱所致；而腐朽材的密度和干缩率均高于正常材；腐朽木中出现了具有应拉木特征的区域，菌丝入侵立木杨树主要通过夹皮裂隙，然后通过导管和木射线细胞向木纤维中扩散。     

Longitudinal growth strains in five clones of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

We studied the variability in longitudinal growth strains and wood basic density in five-year old trees from five clones (one tree per clone) of Eucalyptus tereticornis. Mean longitudinal growth strain in clones ranged from 466 to 876 μm. There was a significant difference between clones in growth strains and wood basic density. Clone 10 exhibited maximum growth strains and basic density, whereas clone 3 and clone 7 exhibited minimum growth strains and basic density, respectively. Within a tree, the growth strain variation with tree height was high but statistically insignificant while within tree variation in basic density was very small. There was no specific trend in variation in either strain or density within a tree. There was 5% 200% difference in growth strain on opposite sides of the logs. However two strains showed a strong positive correlation. There was a moderate positive association of wood basic density and mean growth strains in logs. The variation around the periphery emphasize the need to measure strain more than one, preferably on opposite sides at the same height, on a tree to know the mean strain level for the purpose of selection of clones.     

Effect of thinning and fertilizer on the cellulose crystallite width of Eucalyptus globulus

An analysis of cellulose crystallite width, microfibril angle and wood density after the time of thinning (at 8 years) in straight vertical trees was undertaken in a 13-year-old E. globulus trial designed to assess the effect of thinning on tension wood formation. The most important effect was on cellulose crystallite width, which increased with thinning intensity and this was mitigated where fertilizer was applied at the time of thinning. Given the relationship between high crystallite width and tension wood occurrence the results demonstrate that heavy thinning of E. globulus at this age can contribute to tension wood formation. However, tension wood production may be significantly reduced where fertilizer is applied. This is possibly because increased diameter growth as a response to fertilizer application stabilises the stems and this is the mechanism by which trees cope with internal stresses that are generated from wind in destabilsed stands following thinning. In contrast, trees that respond poorly to thinning produce tension wood.     

The influences of boiling and drying treatments on the behaviors of tension wood with gelatinous layers in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelkova serrata</Emphasis>

This study examined how boiling and drying treatments influenced various physical properties of the tension wood with gelatinous fibers (G-fibers) of a 29-yearold Zelkova branch. By boiling treatment, tension wood with numerous G-fibers contracted considerably in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal Young’s modulus decreased in spite of the water-saturated condition. The drying treatment caused green tension wood and boiled tension wood with numerous G-fibers to shrink longitudinally and increased their longitudinal Young’s moduli. These specific behaviors in tension wood were highly correlated with the proportion of G-fibers in a specimen and were probably caused by the microscopic behavior of cellulose microfibril (CMF) in the gelatinous layers (G-layers). The longitudinal shrinkage of tension wood due to drying suggests the existence of a hygro-sensible, noncrystalline region in the CMF, which is abundant in the G-layer. Furthermore, the noncrystalline region in the CMF softens during boiling treatment, resulting in the reduction of the longitudinal Young’s modulus in tension wood. The longitudinal contraction of tension wood with G-fibers by boiling might be caused by the tensile growth stress remaining in green G-layers. However, no changes were detected in the 004 d-spacing of cellulose crystal in tension wood from the boiling and drying treatments, regardless of the proportion of G-fibers.     

Effects of the lateral growth rate on wood quality parameters of Eucalyptus grandis from different latitudes in Brazil and Argentina

Climate change resulting from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and shortages of fossil fuels such as petroleum are major problems worldwide. Under these conditions, demand for woody biomass resources is increasing. We investigated the feasibility of using fast-growing Eucalyptus grandis for material production. Samples of E. grandis were collected from four plantations in different latitude divisions, including tropical and subtropical Brazil and subtropical Argentina. Various xylem qualities were measured and related to the lateral growth rate. Lateral growth rate did not significantly affect the longitudinal released strain of the surface growth stresses or the xylem density at any of the sampling sites. Higher lateral growth rate, higher values of xylem density, and lower absolute values of the released strain were observed in plantations closer to the equator. Higher growth rates in tropical climate promote longer fiber length. In subtropical plantations, smaller diameter trees will produce tension wood with smaller microfibril angles. Planting E. grandis closer to the equator thus produces higher quality wood than in plantations at lower latitudes.     

欧美杨107杨正常木与应拉木制浆造纸性能比较

选取直立和倾斜欧美杨107杨为研究材料,根据正交试验确定正常木和应拉木最佳制浆条件,比较正常木和应拉木的制浆造纸性能,通过提高打浆转数对应拉木纸张性能的提高进行探讨。结果表明:正常木的最佳制浆条件为用碱量15%、最高温度164℃、最高温度保温时间75min;而应拉木最佳制浆条件为用碱量13%、最高温度160℃、最高温度保温时间40min。用碱量对正常木和应拉木制浆得率和卡伯值影响的通径系数在不同水平上显著。通过对正常木和应拉木制浆造纸性能比较发现,应拉木比正常木制浆得率高、卡伯值低、纸张力学性能均低,且抗张指数和耐破指数差距较大(约2倍),而撕裂指数差距较小。正常木和应拉木之间卡伯值、制浆得率、抗张指数、耐破指数均在0.001水平上差异显著,撕裂指数在0.05水平上差异显著。结合纸张断口形貌分析认为,胶质层的存在使得应拉木纤维成纸时不容易扁平坍陷,极大地阻碍了成纸时纤维之间的结合,因此降低了纸张力学性能;但是,由于其胶质层纤维素含量很高,因此其制浆性能优于正常木。随着打浆转数的提高,应拉木纸张力学性能增强,且接近正常木纸张水平,但过高会降低纸张力学性能。     

Moisture diffusion coefficient of reaction woods: compression wood of Picea abies L. and tension wood of Fagus sylvatica L.

The moisture diffusion coefficient of compression wood in spruce (P. abies) and tension wood in beech (F. sylvatica) was examined. The results indicated that the diffusion coefficient measured under steady-state condition (cup method) could well characterize the drying kinetics of the reaction woods. The compression wood offered more resistance to the moisture diffusivity when compared with the corresponding normal wood. The thick cell wall rich in lignin explains the small mass diffusivity in compression wood. In contrast, the mass diffusivity in beech is almost always higher in tension wood than in normal wood, in spite of similar density values. The high moisture diffusion in tension wood can be explained by the ease of bound water diffusion in the gelatinous layers (G-layers).     

木醋液促进花卉生长的应用研究

应用木醋液对荷兰菊和万寿菊进行浸种、扦插、浸根、喷施等方面进行研究。结果表明,木醋液对花卉的种子发芽率、幼苗生根率、幼苗的生长发育等方面都有明显的促进作用。对照实验结果表明以木醋2号,含量10mg·kg^-1最好,其次为含量20mg·kg^-1,生根率比对照提高1.7-3.1倍,根系总长比对照增加11-72倍;木醋1号和2号用于花卉叶面喷施,均有明显效果,2号好于1号。叶面喷施浓度300-600倍为宜。木醋液作为新型植物生长调节剂在生产上应用,可以进行成分调整,添加植物生长所需要的各种营养成分,应用效果要好于木醋原液。     

马尾松无性系种子园半同胞子代变异分析和家系选择

以福建省漳平五一林场马尾松无性系种子园自由授粉子代半同胞家系为研究对象,分析其树高、胸径、材积、冠幅、通直度、高径比、冠径比、木材基本密度、管胞长度和宽度、管胞长宽比等性状,发现家系间除管胞长宽比性状差异显著,其余性状均达差异极显著,暗示着马尾松种子园半同胞家系间存在较为丰富的变异,具选育潜力。8年生林分内各性状的家系遗传力以树高性状为最高(0·691),其次是木材基本密度(0·640)。各性状间的相关性分析结果表明,生长量性状的改良可间接改善通直度,且生长量性状与木材基本密度存在显著正相关关系,木材基本密度与管胞长度和宽度不相关。采用10%入选率,发现5年生林分和8年生林分入选家系一致,材积遗传增益分别达19·74%和19·23%,且5年生林分和8年生林分生长量性状的遗传相关极显著,认为马尾松制浆造纸材短轮伐期的初选年龄可确定为5年生;根据性状遗传力的相对大小和典型相关分析的结果,认为马尾松家系选择可适当注重树高生长量指标。以树高和材积为选择指标,按照10%入选率,兼顾材性和种子园内无性系的开花结实情况,筛选出制浆造纸材短轮伐期优良家系12个。