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The “blue ring”: anatomy and formation hypothesis of a new tree-ring anomaly in conifers

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Double-stained microsections from high altitude Pinus nigra wood cores highlighted unlignified latewood cells possibly linked to abrupt temperature reduction at the end of the growing season. More consolidated detection could increase their role in dendroecology.

Abstract

Cambial activity and wood formation are influenced by environmental factors, primarily climate. During cell wall formation the lignification is mainly controlled by temperature. By staining with safranin and astra blue it is possible to distinguish cell walls richer in lignin (stained in red) from those richer in cellulose (stained in blue). Here we show an uncommon phenomenon observed in 41 transverse sections prepared for anatomical studies of young European black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) individuals. We detected some layers of incompletely lignified cells that appear blue in safranin–astra blue-stained sections. Growth rings showing this anatomical feature were named “blue rings”. The aims of this preliminary study are: (i) to describe the features of this peculiar anatomical trait, (ii) to enhance its visualization, and (iii) to suggest possible drivers of its formation. First results indicate the influence of low air temperature causing a lack of lignification in latewood cells. The added values provided by the identification of “blue rings” within tree-ring series could be (i) their possible use as pointer year, (ii) cross dating improvement, and (iii) finer assessment of tree sensitivity to environmental and climatic factors.

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Author contribution statement

Alma Piermattei and Alan Crivellaro performed fieldwork, collected data, conducted analyses and wrote the manuscript; Marco Carrer and Carlo Urbinati supervised the analyses and contributed to the preparation and the overall revision of the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Prof. Malcolm Hughes and three anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions and for the text revision, which significantly improved the manuscript. We also like to thank: the Sirente-Velino Regional Park staff for sampling authorization and field work assistance; Dr. Bruno Petriccione of the State Forest Service at L’Aquila for field assistance; the Marche Polytechnic University TreeringLab staff (Dr. Matteo Garbarino) and collaborators (Dr. Emidia Santini, Marco Altieri) for field and laboratory work. Pinus nigra research at treeline was partially supported by the Marche Polytechnic University “2012 RSA n. 7170 project” (Forests and Climate Change). Alan Crivellaro received financial support from the University of Padova (“Assegno di Ricerca Junior” CPDr124554/12).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. di Scienze Agrarie Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60121, Ancona, Italy

    Alma Piermattei & Carlo Urbinati

  2. Dept. Territorio e Sistemi AgroForestali, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy

    Alan Crivellaro & Marco Carrer

Authors
  1. Alma Piermattei
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  2. Alan Crivellaro
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  3. Marco Carrer
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  4. Carlo Urbinati
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Correspondence to Alma Piermattei.

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Communicated by M. Shane.

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Piermattei, A., Crivellaro, A., Carrer, M. et al. The “blue ring”: anatomy and formation hypothesis of a new tree-ring anomaly in conifers. Trees 29, 613–620 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1107-x

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