Righting Movement and Xylem Development in Tilted Young Conifer Trees

Authors

  • Nobuo Yoshizawa
  • Yukie Okamoto
  • Toshinaga Idei

Keywords:

Cambium, compression wood, geotropic response, gymnosperms, xylem growth

Abstract

The natural righting movement and the corresponding xylem development in tilted young trees of five conifer species were observed. There were differences in the response to the stimulus of inclination among species. The righting movement in these tilted young trees suggests that the recovery of the vertical position of the stem is initiated at the top of the stem and gradually proceeds to the bottom, with a corresponding increase from top to bottom of compression wood formation. The formation of compression wood on the underside of the inclined stem continues until the normal vertical position is restored, although under prolonged inclination sensitivity to the stimulus of compression wood formation may decline or be lost and effectively suppress additional compression wood formation on the underside of the stem. Compression wood formation may reverse from the underside to the upper side in the slightly inclined stem.

References

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Published

2007-06-28

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Research Contributions