Futoshi Ishiguri

Variation in the Wood Properties of Paraserianthes Falcataria Planted In Indonesia

In many tree breeding programs, plus trees have been selected according to growth rate or stern form in trees. Trees that have a high growth rate or good stern form do not always produce industrially desirable wood. Therefore criteria for wood quality should be considered in tree breeding programs. The objective of this study is to obtain the basic knowledge for breeding for wood quality in Paraserianthes falcataria, an important commercial tree species of Indonesia. Variation in the growth, log properties, basic density, and fiber length in 13-year-old P. falcataria was investigated. Even though all trees were the same age, diameter at breast height showed high variation, indicating a significant variance in the growth rate of seedlings. Significant differences in the log properties (green density, dynamic Youngs modulus, and stress-wave velocity) were observed among the trees. Basic density showed a constant value up to 10 cm from pith, at which point it began to increase. The fiber length increased up to 10 cm from the pith and then showed an almost constant value. According to the radial variation of the basic density and fiber length, wood is categorized as core wood, which includes that up to 10 cm from the pith, and outer wood, which is that from 10 cm to the bark. In addition, a significant difference in the basic density of core wood was observed among the trees, indicating that the selection of a plus tree with high-density wood in this species is possible at a relatively early stage. These results indicate that the wood quality in P. falcataria can be improved through tree breeding.

RADIAL VARIATION OF ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN PARASERIANTHES FALCATARIA PLANTED IN INDONESIA

Radial variation in anatomical characteristics of five 13-year-old Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen (syn. Albizia falcataria (L.) Fosberg), an important commercial tree species in Indonesia, were investigated in order to obtain basic information regarding breeding for wood quality. Both cell wall thickness in wood fibers and vessel percentage showed an almost constant value up to 10 cm from the pith and then increased toward the bark. In contrast, wood fiber percentage decreased from 10 cm toward the bark. The cell wall percentage was lower towards the pith and higher towards the bark. In the five sample trees, significant differences were found in the cell diameter of wood fibers, wood fiber percentage, axial parenchyma percentage, and cell wall percentage. Basic density was affected by the cell wall thickness of wood fibers, but not the vessel percentage and fiber percentage.

Extractives relating to heartwood color changes in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) by a combination of smoke-heating and UV radiation exposure

Abstract Sugi green logs with red or black heartwood were smoke-heated, and the changes in the color of the heartwood after ultraviolet (UV) (λ = 365 nm) radiation exposure were then observed. After UV radiation exposure, the redness and yellowness increased in both the red and black heartwoods, whereas the brightness decreased. In the black heartwood, the resulting color turned from yellowish white to reddish brown. Reddening in black heartwood after exposure to a combination of smoke heating and UV radiation is thought to be due to a decrease in brightness and an increase in both redness and yellowness. However, the degree of change in heartwood color by UV radiation exposure was not greatly affected by smoke-heating treatments of various lengths. When methanol extracts were fractionated and exposed to UV radiation, the yellowness increased in the n-hexane-soluble portion and the redness increased in the acetone-soluble fractions from the n-hexane-insoluble portion. These results suggest that the n-hexane-soluble fraction contains the substances that allow heartwood color to change to yellow after UV radiation exposure, and the acetone-soluble-fraction from the n-hexane-insoluble portion contains the substances that allow it to change to red.

Wood Quality of Sugi (Cryptomeria Japonica) Grown at four initial Spacings

Wood quality is affected by silviculture, which includes factors such as stand density control and genetics. In the present study, the effects of initial spacing on the general wood quality and lumber quality of sugi wood (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) were examined. Logs of 35-year-old sugi were cut from four stands with different initial spacing (A: 2.6 by 2.6 m, 1,500 trees/ha; B: 1.8 by 1.8 m, 3,000 trees/ha; C: 1.3 by 1.3 m, 6,000 trees/ha; D: 1.0 by 1.0 m, 10,000 trees/ha). Trees from stand A showed significantly larger values in annual ring width than trees from the other stands. However, there were no significant differences in the wood basic density, the length of latewood tracheids, and the microfibril angle of the S2 layer among stands. On the other hand, initial spacing affected the lumber quality. The average diameter of knots was significantly larger in stand A than in the other stands. In addition, the dynamic Youngs modulus, the modulus of rupture, and the modulus of elasticity in static bending increased with the decrease in the initial spacing from 2.6 by 2.6 m to 1.3 by 1.3 m.

Radial variations of wood properties in Casuarina equisetifolia growing in Bangladesh

Radial variations of wood properties (basic density, fiber length, vessel element length, and compression strength) in plantation-grown Casuarina equisetifolia in Bangladesh were investigated for effective utilization of the wood. Samples disks at breast height were randomly collected from trees in a 10-year-old plantation in Cox’s Bazar Forest Division, Bangladesh. The basic density showed a near-constant value up to 30 mm from the pith and then rapidly increased up to 60 mm from the pith. The fiber length and vessel element length gradually increased from the pith to bark. When radial variation of wood properties was determined according to relative distance from the pith, similar radial patterns were observed among the sample trees, indicating that the wood properties in C. equisetifolia may be related to the growth rate. The compression strength parallel to the grain (CS) increased from the pith to bark. A significant positive correlation was found between the air-dried density and the CS. The results obtained indicated that wood around the pith has a relatively low density, and wood outside the pith area has a relatively high density, suggesting that it could be used as structural lumber.

Reddening by UV irradiation after smoke-heating in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) black heartwood

Summary Sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) green logs with black heartwood were smoked, heated, and smoke-heated separately to improve the heartwood color. After each treatment, changes in heartwood color, pH, and extract amounts were examined. In addition, changes in heartwood color caused by UV irradiation were observed. Heating and smoke-heating of logs prevented the heartwood from discoloring to black, and the resulting color of thermally-treated heartwoods was yellow-white, whereas smoking alone allowed discoloration to black. The pH value decreased from the original 7.6 to 6.8 by smoking and to 6.5 by thermal treatment. The results obtained here suggest that a pH drop in heartwood by thermal treatment is involved in color changes of black heartwood. When thermally-treated black heartwood was exposed to UV light, redness and yellowness increased and brightness decreased. The resulting color tone was reddish brown. The color of non-thermally-treated woods, however, showed little change. Furthermore, acetone, ethanol, and methanol extracts of thermally-treated black heartwood showed an increase in redness by UV irradiation, but the residues showed little color change. The coloring substances relating to the reddening of heartwood could be extracted with these solvents, particularly with methanol. Reddening in black heartwood by a combination of smoke-heating and UV irradiation is considered to be due to a decrease in brightness and an increase in both redness and yellowness.

Wood properties of Pericopsis mooniana grown in a plantation in Indonesia

The relationships between growth characteristics and wood properties were investigated for a threatened species, Pericopsis mooniana, to promote the establishment of plantations of this species in the tropics. Growth characteristics (diameter and height) and stress-wave velocity (SWV) of trees were measured for 22-year-old P. mooniana trees planted in Indonesia. The trees were categorized into three groups, fast-growing, middle-growing, and slow-growing trees, to investigate the effect of growth rate on the wood properties. In addition, radial variation of anatomical characteristics and wood properties were determined. No significant correlation was found between growth characteristics and SWV. The values for the vessel diameter, cell wall thickness of wood fibers, wood fiber length, basic density, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture from wood at the bark side were higher than those at the pith side. On the other hand, vessel frequency gradually decreased from pith to bark. These results suggested that low-quality wood, such as juvenile wood, existed near the pith area.

Wood Properties of Young Acacia mangium Trees Planted in Indonesia

Abstract This study evaluated the wood properties of 5- and 7-year-old Acacia mangium trees planted in West Java, Indonesia. A plot (20 by 20 m) was selected in each stand. The stem diameter and stress-wave velocity (SWV) were measured for all trees (n = 24 and 18 for 5- and 7-y-old trees, respectively) in the plots. Core samples were taken from all trees in each plot using an increment borer to measure the basic density (BD) and compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS). The mean ± standard deviation stem diameter was 13.1 ± 3.0 and 21.9 ± 3.8 cm in 5- and 7-year-old trees, respectively. There was no significant correlation between stem diameter and SWV. The mean BD and CS for 5-year-old trees were 0.42 ± 0.02 g cm−3 and 30.0 ± 4.4 MPa, respectively, and for 7-year-old trees were 0.45 ± 0.02 g cm−3 and 32.8 ± 3.6 MPa, respectively. There was a positive correlation between BD and CS in 5- and 7-year-old trees (r = 0.790 and 0.583, respectively). The radial variation patterns for BD and CS were simil...

Plant regeneration from mesophyll protoplasts of a medicinal plant, Phellodendron amurense rupr.

SummaryA regeneration system from protoplast to plantlet for a medicinal plant species, Phellodendron amurense Rupr., has been developed. Leaves of micropropagated shoots or plantlets were selected as plant materials for protoplast isolation. The yield and viability of leaf protoplasts were greatly influenced by enzyme combination, treatment time and osmoticum. The highest viability (86%) with a yield of 7.1×105 protoplasts per gram fresh weight was obtained with a 6-h digestion in 1% Cellulase Onozuka R-10 plus 1% Driselase-20. Sustained cell division and colony formation from the protoplasts were best supported at a plating density of 4×105−6×105 protoplasts per milliliter using a 0.2% gellan gum-solidified or liquid MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium containing 0.6M mannitol, 2.0μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) with 4.0 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The protoplast-derived colonies formed green compact calluses when transferred to a solidified MS medium containing 2.0 μM BA with 4.0μM NAA of IBA. Shoot regeneration from protoplast-derived calluses was induced on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 μM BA and 1.0μM NAA or 2.5μM IBA. Shoot multiplication and elongation occurred on MS medium containing 1.0μM BA. In vitro-grown shoots were rooted on MS medium with either 0.5–4.0μM IBA or NAA. Regenerants were transferred to the Kanuma soil and successfully established under greenhouse conditions.

Cell Morphology and wood properties of Shorea Acuminatissima Planted in Indonesia

In view of the importance of long-rotation plantation forestry in SE Asia to limit soil erosion, the cell morphology and wood properties of 35-yearold plantation trees of yellow meranti, Shorea acuminatissima Sym. were studied. To understand the effects of growth rate on cell morphology and wood properties, 131 trees in a stand were classified according to their stem diameter as fast-, medium-, and slow-growing. Five trees in each category were selected for determining the cell morphology and wood properties. There were significant differences in vessel diameter, vessel frequency, and cell wall thickness of wood fibers in the three categories. The fast-growing trees had a relatively low frequency of wide vessels and thick-walled wood fibers. However, no significant differences in basic density or compressive strength parallel to grain were identified in the three categories. The radial variation in the cell morphology and wood properties showed an almost identical pattern in the three categories, suggesting that xylem maturation depends on the cambial age rather than growth rate.