Ultrastructure of tracheid cell walls in radiata pine (Pinus radiata) mild compression wood

Abstract

The structure of tracheid cell walls in mild compression wood of Pinus radiata D. Don was examined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fluorescence microscopy using lignin autofluorescence revealed cell to cell variations in lignification of the cell corner middle lamella (CCML) and outer S2 (S2L) regions supporting observations made at higher resolution with TEM. The mild compression wood sample examined lacked the characteristic intercellular spaces of most grades of compression wood and thus represents the least severe grade of compression wood. TEM observations revealed evidence for radial striations in the S2 region probably representing regions of alternating high and low lignin concentration, which may be the precursor to the helical cavities found in severe compression wood. These radial striations typically showed a sinuous and branched structure, extending partly into the S2L region, where the orientation of lignin lamellae was predominantly tangential following the arrangement of the cellulose microfibrils. At high magnification lignin occurred in a patchy distribution overlaying the typical lamellate arrangement associated with normal wood. Significant variability in the lignification of the CCML region was also observed sometimes giving a patchy or granular appearance. The lignification of the CCML and the S2L regions was generally comparable, while S1 and S2 layers were less lignified. A residual S3 layer was sometimes present in the form of a very thin layer slightly more lignified than the adjacent S2 layer.Key words: compression wood, Pinus radiata D. Don, ultrastructure, confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, lignin distribution.