Abstract
The top, the lateral and the underside of basal branch segments of two gymnosperm species, spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and yew (Taxus baccata L.), were studied with respect to possible adaptation in structural and mechanical properties. Microtensile tests were performed on thin wet foils, which were removed from the periphery of the branches. Structural parameters such as density and the microfibril angle in the S2-layer were examined to investigate the structure-function relationships of the branch wood. The top, the lateral and the underside of both branches showed significant differences in their structural and mechanical properties. However, no significant variations were observed as a function of age and size development. The findings were discussed in view of adaptive growth strategies of trees, including biomechanical constraints of a horizontally growing branch.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
I Burgert K Frühmann J Keckes P Fratzl SE Stanzl-Tschegg (2004) ArticleTitleStructure- function-relationships of four compression wood types- micromechanical properties at the tissue and fibre level Trees 18 480–485
Cote, WA, Day, AC (1965) “Anatomy and ultrastructure of reaction wood” In: Cote, WA (ed.), Cellular ultrastructure of woody plants, Syracuse Univ. Press, N.Y., pp 391–418
J Färber HC Lichtenegger A Reiterer S Stanzl-Tschegg P Fratzl (2001) ArticleTitleCellulose microfibril angles in a spruce branch and mechanical implications J Mat Sci 36 5087–5092
M Fournier H Bailleres B Chanson (1994) ArticleTitleTree biomechanics: growth, cumulative prestresses, and reorientations Biomimetics 2 229–251
P Fratzl (1999) ArticleTitleBiologische Materialien-dem Bauplan naturlicher Hochleistungswerkstoffe auf der Spur Physik in unserer Zeit 30 196–200
K Frühmann I Burgert SE Stanzl-Tschegg (2003) ArticleTitleDetection of the fracture path under tensile loads through in situ tests in an ESEM chamber Holzforschung 57 326–332
L Groom L Mott S Shaler (2002) ArticleTitleMechanical properties of individual southern pine fibers. Part 1. Determination and variability of stress-strain curves with respect to tree height and juvenility Wood Fiber Science 34 14–27
B Hoffmann B Chabbert B Monties T Speck (2003) ArticleTitleMechanical, chemical and X-ray analysis of wood in the two tropical lianas Bauhinia guianensis and Condylocarpon guianense: variations during ontogeny Planta 217 32–40
J Keckes I Burgert P Fratzl et al. (2003) ArticleTitleCell-wall recovery after irreversible deformation of wood Nature Materials 2 810–814
L Köhler H-CH Spatz (2002) ArticleTitleMicromechanics of plant tissues beyond the linear-elastic range Planta 215 33–40 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00425-001-0718-9 Occurrence Handle12012239
H Lichtenegger A Reiterer S Tschegg P Fratzl (1998) Determination of spiral angles of elementary fibrils in the wood cell wall: comparison of small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray diffraction BG Butterfield (Eds) Microfibril angle in wood IAWA-press . 140–156
H Lindström JW Evans SP Verrill (1998) ArticleTitleInfluence of cambial age and growth conditions on microfibril angle in young Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) Holzforschung 52 573–581
P Navi PK Rastogi V Gresse A Tolou (1995) ArticleTitleMicromechanics of wood subjected to axial tension Wood Sci. Technol. 29 411–429
KJ Niklas (1992) Plant biomechanics University of Chicago Press Chicago, London
KJ Niklas (1997) ArticleTitleMechanical properties of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) wood. Size- and age-dependent variations in sap- and heartwood Ann Bot 79 265–272
KJ Niklas (1999) ArticleTitleVariations of the mechanical properties of Acer saccharum roots J. Exp. Bot. 50 193–200
SJ Park (1984) ArticleTitleStructure of opposite wood III. Variability of the microfibril angle and length of the tracheids in peripheral positions within each annual ring including the “opposite” wood Mokuzai Gakkaishi 30 435–439
SJ Park (1986) ArticleTitleStructure of Opposite wood VIII. Component layers in tracheid walls of “opposite” wood Mokuzai Gakkaishi 32 644–648
A Reiterer HF Jakob SE Stanzl-Tschegg P Fratzl (1998) ArticleTitleSpiral angle of elementary cellulose fibrils in cell walls of Picea abies determined by small-angle X-ray scattering Wood Sci Technol 32 335–345
A Reiterer H Lichtenegger S Tschegg P Fratzl (1999) ArticleTitleExperimental evidence for a mechanical function of the cellulose microfibril angle in wood cell walls Philosophical Magazine A 79 2173–2184
H-CH Spatz L Köhler KJ Niklas (1999) ArticleTitleMechanical behaviour of plant tissues: composite materials or structures? J Exp Biol 202 3269–3272
A Stokes C Mattheck (1996) ArticleTitleVariation of wood strength in tree roots J Exp Bot 47 693–699
TE Timell (1973a) ArticleTitleStudies on opposite wood of conifers. Part I: Chemical composition Wood Sci Technol 7 1–5
TE Timell (1973b) ArticleTitleStudies on opposite wood of conifers. Part II: Histology and ultrastructure Wood Sci Technol 7 79–91
TE Timell (1983) ArticleTitleOrigin and evolution of compression wood Holzforschung 37 1–10
Wardrop, AB (1965) “The formation and function of reaction wood” In: Cote, WA (ed.), Cellular ultrastructure of woody plants, Syracuse Univ. press, N.Y., pp 371–390
H Yamamoto (1998) ArticleTitleGeneration mechanism of growth stresses in wood cell walls: roles of lignin deposition and cellulose microfibril during cell wall maturation Wood Sci Technol 32 171–182
N Yoshizawa T Idei (1987) ArticleTitleSome structural and evolutionary aspects of compression wood tracheids Wood Fiber Sci 19 343–352
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burgert, I., Jungnikl, K. Adaptive Growth of Gymnosperm Branches-Ultrastructural and Micromechanical Examinations. J Plant Growth Regul 23, 76–82 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-004-0042-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-004-0042-2