Lignification and cell wall thickening of ray parenchyma cells in Scots pine sapwood

Abstract Scots pine exhibits variations in ray anatomy, which are poorly understood. Some parenchyma cells develop thick and lignified cell walls before heartwood formation. We hypothesized that some stands trees show high numbers of thick-walled early the sapwood. Therefore, a microscopic analysis sapwood from four different Northern Europe was performed on Safranin — Astra blue-stained tangential micro sections outer inner areas. Significant differences lignification wall thickening were observed between all for analyzed. On single tree level, relative ranged 4.3% to 74.3% In sapwood, more frequent. trees, however, difference small since lignification, already common Ray composition number rays per area not significantly within studied material. However, only one Scottish had higher ray. The discovered relevant wood utilization general impregnation treatments with protection agents particular.