Wetwood and its formation in Acacia mangium
Country
Malaysia
Description
[Synopsis]
The report on the existence of wetwood, in Acacia mangium Willd. is the first one among tropical plantation species. Trees at two of the three different sites examined showed higher moisture contents in the inner heartwood than in the adjacent outer heartwood or sapwood. An increase in the moisture content in the heartwood region is normally referred to as wetwood which has been defined as an abnormal type of heartwood caused by decay or wound. As close relationship between inorganic element concentrations and moisture contents in wetwood have been described in the literature, the distribution of inorganic elements in this species was investigated. Radial distribution of 4 major elements from alkali metals and alkaline earth metals from sapwood to heartwood in the stem was analyzed in view of their relationship with wetwood using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Wood from three plantation sites showed a similar pattern of K and Mg distribution. The concentration of K and Mg decreased gradually from the sapwood toward the outer heartwood, and did not show any significant variations within the heartwood. Radial distribution of Na and Ca failed to display any obvious trend. In all the analyzed samples that displayed wetwood or even without wetwood, generally the content of inorganic elements in heartwood was lower than in sapwood. Close relationship between the concentration of inorganic elements and moisture content which is found in the wetwood of temperate species, was not recognized in A. mangium. The characteristic and origin of weteood may be different between temperate species and tropical ones. The origin of water in wetwood of A. mangium is an important problem to be clarified.
- Affiliation
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Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Forestry Division
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Classification
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Technical A
- Term of research
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FY1995-1997
- Responsible researcher
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YAMAMOTO Koichi ( Forestry Division )
Sulaiman Othman ( Universiti Sains Malaysia )
Hashim Rokiah ( Universiti Sains Malaysia )
SIMATUPANG Maruli H. ( Universiti Sains Malaysia )
- ほか
- Japanese PDF
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1996_12_A3_ja.pdf1.31 MB