The relation between the microscopic structure and the wood density of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

• Published in: Journal of forest science (Praha) Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 170 - 175
• Main Authors: Gryc, V.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Lesnicka a Drevarska Fakulta, Vavrcik, H.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Lesnicka a Drevarska Fakulta, Rybnicek, M.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Lesnicka a Drevarska Fakulta, Premyslovska, E.,Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Lesnicka a Drevarska Fakulta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 01-04-2008
• Subjects: ANATOMIA DE LA PLANTA; ANATOMIE VEGETALE; ANILLO DE CRECIMIENTO; beech; BOIS DE JEUNESSE; CERNE; DENSIDAD; DENSITE; DENSITY; FAGUS SYLVATICA; GROWTH RINGS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2186; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24637; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3399; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4066; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4668; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4810; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5954; JUVENILE WOOD; MADERA JOVEN; mature wood; MEASUREMENT; MEDICION; MESURE; MICROSCOPIA; MICROSCOPIE; MICROSCOPY; PLANT ANATOMY; rays; vessels
• ISSN: 1212-4834; 1805-935X
• DOI: 10.17221/1/2008-jfs

The aim of this study was to compare the structure of beech juvenile and mature wood in relation to wood density. The comparative analysis between juvenile and mature wood examined the diameter of vessels, the width and height of pith rays, and the number of vessels and pith rays per 1 square mm. The results show that the average vessel diameter as well as the width and height of pith rays reached statistically lower values in juvenile wood than in mature wood. On the other hand, no significant differences between the two types of wood were found in terms of the frequency of vessels per 1 square mm. The difference in the frequency of rays per 1 square mm between juvenile and mature wood was far from being negligible; juvenile wood had three times as many pith rays as mature wood. The density of juvenile wood was higher (726.07 kg/cubic m) than the density of mature wood (701.50 kg/cubic m).