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Relationships of climate and cell features in stems and roots of black spruce and balsam fir

Relations entre climat et caractéristiques cellulaires dans la tige et les racines de l’épinette noire et du sapin baumier

Annals of Forest Science volume 67, page 402 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • The anatomical differences of mature black spruces and balsam firs were examined at stem and root level in order to characterize their wood properties at cellular level and link these differences to climate.

  • • Anatomical variability of these species was evaluated in relation to climate data gathered from 2001 to 2004 during the cell enlargement (CE) and wall thickening and lignification (WTL) phases. Lumen area, single cell wall thickness and total tracheid radial diameter were analyzed and regrouped into earlywood and latewood.

  • • Results from a principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that both first eigenvectors account for 82% and 90% of total variance for CE and WTL respectively. These component factors revealed that precipitation, humidity and number of days with precipitation significantly influence the lumen area (p = 0.0168) and radial cell diameter (p = 0.0222) in earlywood. Significant differences were registered between species and tree parts (stem and root) for the lumen area, radial cell diameter and cell wall thickness in both earlywood and latewood.

  • • In our study, black spruce exhibited smaller tracheid size in both stem and roots compared to balsam fir. Furthermore, the lower amount of tracheids produced during the growing season and higher proportion of latewood ensure a higher wood density of black spruce. The influence of temperature on earlywood formation is significant, whereas no influence was observed on latewood.

Résumé

  • • Les différences anatomiques au niveau de la tige et du système racinaire d’épinettes noires et de pins gris matures ont été examinées afin de caractériser la qualité de leur bois au niveau cellulaire et de le relier aux conditions climatiques.

  • • Les propriétés anatomiques de ces espèces ont été évaluées en relation avec des variables climatiques compilées au cours des années 2001 à 2004 durant la phase d’élargissement des cellules (CE) et celle de l’épaississement et de la lignification des parois (WTL). L’aire du lumen, l’épaisseur des parois ainsi que le nombre total de trachéides au niveau du diamètre radial des cellules ont été analysés et regroupés selon le bois final et le bois initial.

  • • Les résultats issus d’une analyse en composantes principales (PCA) ont révélé que les deux premiers facteurs (eigenvector) représentent 82 % et 90 % de la variance totale de CE et de WTL respectivement. Ces composantes ont indiqué que la précipitation, l’humidité et le nombre de jours avec pluie influencent significativement la formation de l’aire du lumen (p = 0.0168) et le diamètre radial des cellules (p = 0.0222) dans le bois initial. Des différences significatives ont aussi été enregistrées entre les espèces et les parties de l’arbre pour l’aire du lumen, le diamètre radial des cellules et l’épaisseur des parois dans le bois initial comme dans le bois final.

  • • Dans notre étude, l’épinette noire a présenté dans les tiges et les racines des trachéides de plus petite dimension contrairement au sapin baumier. De plus, la faible quantité de trachéides produite durant la saison de croissance combinée à une proportion plus grande de bois final confère à l’épinette noire une densité de bois plus élevée. Une influence significative de la température a été enregistrée sur la formation du bois initial.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l’Université, G7H 2B1, Chicoutimi, Qc, Canada

    Cornelia Krause, Sergio Rossi, Maxime Thibeault-Martel & Pierre -Y. Plourde

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  1. Cornelia Krause
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  2. Sergio Rossi
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  3. Maxime Thibeault-Martel
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  4. Pierre -Y. Plourde
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Correspondence to Cornelia Krause.

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Krause, C., Rossi, S., Thibeault-Martel, M. et al. Relationships of climate and cell features in stems and roots of black spruce and balsam fir. Ann. For. Sci. 67, 402 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009122

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X