Polyploidy and Wood Anatomy of Mature White Ash, <i>Fraxinus Americana</i>

Authors

  • Joseph E. Armstrong

Keywords:

Polyploidy, wood anatomy, white ash, fiber length, specific gravity, Fraxinus americana

Abstract

The ploidy levels of ten field-grown white ash trees from southern Illinois were determined using cytophotometric methods. A wood sample was removed from the bole of each tree and examined to determine wood cell sizes, increment widths, and specific gravity. Six of the trees examined were diploids, two were tetraploids, and two were hexaploids. There were no differences between the ten trees in wood specific gravity. The higher ploidy levels did show a statistically significant correlation with longer vessel elements and longer fibers. The increase in fiber length was attributable both to an increase in the average cambial initial length and a proportionate ontogenetic elongation.

References

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Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Number 4 / October 1982

Section

Research Contributions

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