Morphometric Analysis Applied to Wood Structure. I. Cross-Sectional Cell Shape and Area Change in Red Spruce
Keywords:
Circularity index, cell lumen area, image analyzer, nitrogen fertilization, cell-wall area, red spruceAbstract
A new method for assessing seasonal change in cross-sectional tracheid shape in conifers is described and tested with red spruce. An equation (called circularity index) was used to reference cell shape to a circle with equal circumference. Cell lumen boundaries were measured on a rear projection digitizer coupled to a computer. Circularity indices and cell lumen areas were determined, and curves of these parameters were plotted across growth rings. Circularity index curves proved to be a sensitive measure of true latewood, and cell lumen area curves detected variation in transition latewood. Cell-wall area changes that were related to site differences correlated with earlier specific gravity determinations. Cell lumen area curves provided an explanation for nonsignificant specific gravity differences in spruce wood following nitrogen fertilization.References
Biedenbach, M. A., R. W. Beuerman, and A. C. Brown. 1975. Graphic-digitizer analysis of axon spectra in ethmoidal and lingual branches of the trigeminal nerve. Cell Tissue Res.157:341-352.nFisher, C. 1972. Current capabilities and limitations of available stereological techniques IV. Automatic image analysis for the stereologist. J. Microscopy95H:385-392.nGaum, J. 1972. Current capabilities and limitations of available stereological techniques I. Stereological measurements with lines, circles, and structural standards. J. Microscopy95H:368-373.nHaasemann, M. 1963. Bestimmung des Spätholzanteils bei Fichten- und Kiefernholz mit Hilfe des Auflichtmikroskopes. Holztechnologie4:277-280.nJagels, R., D. J. Gardner, and T. J. Brann. 1982. Improved techniques for handling and staining wood fibers for digitizer assisted measurement. Wood Sci.14(4):165-167.nLarson, P. R. 1969. Wood formation and the concept of wood quality. Yale University, School of Forestry, Bulletin No. 74.nMcMillan, C. W. 1982. Application of automatic image analysis to wood science. Wood Sci.14(3):97-105.nMinerowicz, E. A. 1981. The influence of selected site factors on wood quality of spruce fertilized with nitrogen. M.S. thesis, University of Maine, Orono.nMork, E. 1928. Die Qualität des Fichtenholzes unter besonder Rücksihtnahme auf Schleif- und Papierholz. Papier Fabrikant26:741-747.nPanshin, A. J., and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of wood technology, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.nQuirk, J. T. 1981. Semiautomated recording of wood cell dimensions. Forest Sci.27(2):336-338.nShepard, R. K., Jr., and J. E. Shottafer. 1979. Effects of fertilization on specific gravity and growth rate of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.). Wood Sci.12(2):100-102.nSmith, D. M. 1967. Microscopic methods for determining cross-sectional cell dimensions. U.S. For. Serv. Res. Paper, FPL 79.nWiksten, A. 1954. Method for measuring springwood and summerwood in annual rings III. Differentiation of spring and summerwood through staining. Meddel Fran Statens Skogsforsokson-stalt34:476-488. Translation No. 19, Fac. For., University of British Columbia, Vancouver.n
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:
1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.
2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.
3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.
