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Effect of growth rate on mean microfibril angle and cross-sectional shape of tracheids of Norway spruce

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Abstract

The variation of the mean microfibril angle (MFA) and the shape of the cross-section of lumen with the distance from the pith in fast grown Norway spruce were studied by X-ray scattering and optical microscopy. The samples were from stems of a clone of Norway spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] grown in a fertile site at Nurmijärvi, southern Finland Both the mean MFA and the circularity index of the lumen of the fast-grown trees decreased more gradually as the distance from the pith increased than those in reference trees grown in a medium fertility site. However, in mature wood the mean MFA reached the same level in fast-grown trees as in reference trees (5°–10°) but the cross-sections of the cells remained more circular in fast-grown trees than in reference trees. The dependence of the mean MFA on the distance from the pith was similar for earlywood and latewood, but the values of the mean MFA of latewood were systematically smaller than those of earlywood. Two different X-ray diffraction geometries were compared from the points of view of biology and data analysis.

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Acknowledgements

COST E20 is gratefully acknowledged for providing the STSM-funding to M.S. for a visit to Erich-Schmid-Institute of Material Science. The financial support from the Foundation for Research of Nature Resource in Finland and WoodWisdom program (project 43156), funded by the Academy of Finland and the Ministry of Agriculture (project 310244), is gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Simo Siiriä, Katri Kostianen, Mrs. Satu Järvinen, Mr. Tapio Järvinen, Mrs. Irmeli Luovula and Mr. Kari Sauvala are thanked for their skilful technical assistance. Mr. Sakari Vainikainen (Foundation for Forest Tree Breeding, Haapastensyrjä, Finland) is gratefully acknowledged for providing the experimental material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of X-ray Physics, Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Matti-P. Sarén, Ritva Serimaa & Seppo Andersson

  2. Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 18, 01301, Vantaa, Finland

    Pekka Saranpää

  3. Erich-Schmid-Institute of Material Science, Jahnstrasse 12, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    Jozef Keckes & Peter Fratzl

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  1. Matti-P. Sarén
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  2. Ritva Serimaa
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  3. Seppo Andersson
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  4. Pekka Saranpää
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  5. Jozef Keckes
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  6. Peter Fratzl
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Correspondence to Ritva Serimaa.

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Sarén, MP., Serimaa, R., Andersson, S. et al. Effect of growth rate on mean microfibril angle and cross-sectional shape of tracheids of Norway spruce. Trees 18, 354–362 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0313-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0313-8

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