RADIAL PERMEABILITY OF SITKA SPRUCE (PICEA SITCHENSIS (BONG ) CARR.) AS AFFECTED BY ASPECTS OF RAY CELL TISSUE.

摘要

In order to explain observed differences in radial fluid uptake between Sitka spruce trees of Queen Charlotte Island (QCI) and South Oregon (SO) seed origins, the quantity and dimensions of ray tracheids and ray parenchyma cells were examined by microscopy and image analysis. These seed origins were selected because they showed extremes in radial permeability using a copper-chromium-arsenic wood preservative full cell treatment. The data were analysed and differences in cell composition and dimensions were observed. The results showed that dimensions of ray tracheids, and the size and numbers of ray tracheid: axial tracheid bordered pits were the most significant factors affecting radial permeability.