Abstract:

A comprehensive determination and deep analysis on the variation mode of fiber and vessel morphological parameters along tree (Populus×canadensis cv. “I-214") height, including length and width, fiber wall thickness, tissue ratio, fiber wall ratio, basic density, width of growth rings, and on the relationship among them were conducted. The present results indicated an initially rapid and then gentle increase of fiber length and width, fiber wall thickness, vessel length and tangential diameter and vessel ratio from pith to outward, while vessel numbers, tissue ratio of fibers and rays, fiber wall ratios gradually decreased and then tended to stable. The variation of all the anatomical parameters but cell wall ratio showed no significance along tree height. The radial variation mode of basic density was characterized with initially slight decrease followed immediately by a rapid and then much more gentle increase from pith to outward. The delimitation age between juvenile and mature wood was 10～12 years. Compared with mature wood, juvenile wood owned lower basic density, shorter and narrower fibers and vessels, thinner cell wall, higher fiber and ray ratio, more vessels, lower vessel ratio and narrower width of growth rings, and there was significant difference in basic density, fiber and vessel length and tangential diameter, tissue ratio of vessels and rays between juvenile and mature wood. Growth rate imposed no significant impact on anatomical properties, but showed significant negative correlation with the basic density of wood, which was in turn closely related to anatomical parameters. There existed highly significant correlation between the age of growth rings and basic density as well as all the anatomical parameters, so the predictive models could be established.

Key words: Variation within tree, Populus×, canadensis cv. &ldquo, I-214", Wood anatomical properties, Basic density, Correlation model