Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits

Wood has a highly complex and anisotropic structure. Its xylem characteristics are key in determining the hydraulic properties of plants to transport water efficiently and safely, as well as the permeability in the process of wood impregnation modification. Previous studies on the relationship betwe...

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Main Authors: Wen Qu, Chunmei Yang, Jiawei Zhang, Yan Ma, Xinchi Tian, Shuai Zhao, Wenji Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/171
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author Wen Qu
Chunmei Yang
Jiawei Zhang
Yan Ma
Xinchi Tian
Shuai Zhao
Wenji Yu
author_facet Wen Qu
Chunmei Yang
Jiawei Zhang
Yan Ma
Xinchi Tian
Shuai Zhao
Wenji Yu
author_sort Wen Qu
collection DOAJ
description Wood has a highly complex and anisotropic structure. Its xylem characteristics are key in determining the hydraulic properties of plants to transport water efficiently and safely, as well as the permeability in the process of wood impregnation modification. Previous studies on the relationship between the xylem structure and hydraulic conductivity of conifer have mainly focused on tracheids and bordered pits, with only a few focusing on the conduction model of cross-field pits which connect tracheids and rays. This study takes the xylem structure of conifer as an example, drawing an analogy between water flow under tension and electric current, and extends the model to the tissue scale, including cross-field pits by establishing isometric scaling. The structure parameters were collected by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The improved model can quantify the important hydraulic functional characteristics of xylem only by measuring the more easily obtained tracheid section size. Then, this model was applied to quantify the relationship between the xylem anatomical structure and hydraulic properties in the pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongholica Litv.</i>) and the spruce (<i>Picea koraiensis Nakai</i>), and also to evaluate the effects of the number and size of cross-field pits on xylem conduction. The results showed that the growth ring conduction value of the pine was more than twice that of the spruce for the two tree species with similar growth widths in this study. The tracheid wall resistance of the pine reflected the result of the interaction of the size and number of cross-field pits, in comparison, the wall resistance of the spruce was more sensitive to the number of cross-field pits. Finally, the calculation output of the new model was cross-validated with the literature, which verified the accuracy and effectiveness of the model. This study provides an effective and complete solution for xylem conductivity measurement and the study of wood ecophysiological diversity and processing.
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spelling doaj.art-54f7f0f5e7cc4e19b59de9abf41edfb02023-11-23T19:55:21ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-01-0113217110.3390/f13020171Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field PitsWen Qu0Chunmei Yang1Jiawei Zhang2Yan Ma3Xinchi Tian4Shuai Zhao5Wenji Yu6College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaResearch Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100864, ChinaWood has a highly complex and anisotropic structure. Its xylem characteristics are key in determining the hydraulic properties of plants to transport water efficiently and safely, as well as the permeability in the process of wood impregnation modification. Previous studies on the relationship between the xylem structure and hydraulic conductivity of conifer have mainly focused on tracheids and bordered pits, with only a few focusing on the conduction model of cross-field pits which connect tracheids and rays. This study takes the xylem structure of conifer as an example, drawing an analogy between water flow under tension and electric current, and extends the model to the tissue scale, including cross-field pits by establishing isometric scaling. The structure parameters were collected by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The improved model can quantify the important hydraulic functional characteristics of xylem only by measuring the more easily obtained tracheid section size. Then, this model was applied to quantify the relationship between the xylem anatomical structure and hydraulic properties in the pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongholica Litv.</i>) and the spruce (<i>Picea koraiensis Nakai</i>), and also to evaluate the effects of the number and size of cross-field pits on xylem conduction. The results showed that the growth ring conduction value of the pine was more than twice that of the spruce for the two tree species with similar growth widths in this study. The tracheid wall resistance of the pine reflected the result of the interaction of the size and number of cross-field pits, in comparison, the wall resistance of the spruce was more sensitive to the number of cross-field pits. Finally, the calculation output of the new model was cross-validated with the literature, which verified the accuracy and effectiveness of the model. This study provides an effective and complete solution for xylem conductivity measurement and the study of wood ecophysiological diversity and processing.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/171conifercross-field pitsbordered pitshydraulic propertiesflow resistancemodel
spellingShingle Wen Qu
Chunmei Yang
Jiawei Zhang
Yan Ma
Xinchi Tian
Shuai Zhao
Wenji Yu
Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
Forests
conifer
cross-field pits
bordered pits
hydraulic properties
flow resistance
model
title Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
title_full Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
title_fullStr Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
title_full_unstemmed Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
title_short Hydraulic Function Analysis of Conifer Xylem Based on a Model Incorporating Tracheids, Bordered Pits, and Cross-Field Pits
title_sort hydraulic function analysis of conifer xylem based on a model incorporating tracheids bordered pits and cross field pits
topic conifer
cross-field pits
bordered pits
hydraulic properties
flow resistance
model
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/171
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AT jiaweizhang hydraulicfunctionanalysisofconiferxylembasedonamodelincorporatingtracheidsborderedpitsandcrossfieldpits
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AT shuaizhao hydraulicfunctionanalysisofconiferxylembasedonamodelincorporatingtracheidsborderedpitsandcrossfieldpits
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