-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Satoshi Nakaba, Yusuke Yamagishi, Yuzou Sano, Ryo Funada, C5-P-01
Analysis of localization of heartwood substances in the pith region of a hardwood, Robinia pseudoacacia var. inermis by fluorescence microspectroscopy , Microscopy, Volume 64, Issue suppl_1, November 2015, Page i139, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmicro/dfv329Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
The formation of heartwood is a unique phenomenon in long-lived woody plants. Heartwood is defined as “the inner layers of wood, which, in the growing tree, have ceased to contain living cells, and in which the reserve materials (e.g., starch) have been removed or converted into heartwood substances” [ 1 ]. Xylem parenchyma cells synthesize heartwood substances such as polyphenols that contribute to increases in the decay resistance of tree trunk, prior to their death. A full understanding of the mechanism of heartwood formation should provide useful information for controling the properties of wood.
Heartwood formation results from the death of xylem parenchyma cells. The death of xylem parenchyma cells progresses from the inner toward the outer region of the stem. Therefore, the death of parenchyma cells might initiate from the tissues at the center of branches and stems, namely pith regions. If this hypothesis is correct, the parenchyma cells in the pith might be involved in the initiation of heartwood formation. However, it remains unclear where is the initiation point of heartwood formation.
