Anatomical and FTIR analyses of phloem and xylem of Tetracentron sinense

Abstract

The fast growth of Tetracentron sinense is a potential valuable timber resource, but whether its anatomy and chemical components are suitable for timber is unknown. We used light microscopy and SEM to examine the anatomical structure and FITR to measure the chemical components of the phloem and xylem of this tree. Radial variations in growth ring width and tracheid dimensions were also evaluated. The sieve tube, phloem parenchyma cell and sclereids clusters were the main cells in phloem, and the tracheid was the fundamental cell in xylem. An unusual tracheid type, fiber-tracheids or vessel-liked elements was visible. Wood rays nonstoried, uniseriate and multiseriate, including heterogeneous II, occasionally I, and usually 3–6 cells wide. The mean growth-ring width was 2.53 ± 0.46 mm, and the percentage of late wood was over 60%. For radial variation, growth-ring width increased at an early growth stage, and reached the largest increment during years 11–15, then decreased. The maximum growth-ring width was 5.313 mm. During late growth (60–85 years), trees also maintained a high radial growth increment. Radial variation in the percentage of late wood was uniform, about 50–70%, throughout the growth years. Growth patterns in the length and width of early and late wood were similar as the trees aged. From the FTIR results, the chemical components differed significantly between xylem and phloem, hemicellulose in particular was higher in the xylem than in the phloem, where it was apparently absent. All of these suggest that the composition of phloem in T. sinense is very similar to that of hardwood, and it has higher growth ratio and uniform wood properties.