Manisha Agarwal , Sangeeta Gupta , Laxmi Chauhan , Veena Painuly

Abstract

This paper reports perforated ray cells in the wood of Pistacia terebinthus of the family Anacardiaceae. In this species the perforated ray cells were found isolated , localized mainly on the ends of multiseriate rays. The perforated ray cells are larger than other ray cells , with simple perforation plate and bordered pits , as in vessel elements , located on radial walls.

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Sangeeta Gupta , S. P. Kulshreshta , Laxmi Chauhan

Abstract

An expert system entitled 'Wood Anatomy Information System (WAIS)' has been developed for assisting in wood research, wood images display and wood identification. The software is quite comprehensive with provision for all details related to FRI Xylarium and anatomical structure of Indian hardwoods. It is user friendly and has five modules viz. feature description; data input and image display; wood identification; query; and report generation. The database on wood microstructure is developed using standard list of anatomical characters given by International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA). The same is used in deciphering information of interest and comparing different data sets of various families, genera and species. The data thus generated shall help in establishing phylogenetic relationship, microstructure variation, homogeneity and heterogeneity within families, relationship between features and above all in wood identification. Since the woods are studied on three planes therefore Wood Images of all the three surfaces viz transverse, radial and tangential shall be stored in this package. The same will serve the purpose of wood structure atlas. The system carries out identification through binary search. The computer filters as per the selected features and gives option of best subsequent feature that can narrow down the search considerable. Thus in about four to five steps the identification of an unknown wood sample can be achieved. This identification module has the flexibility of skipping the features not known to the user. Through Querying module selected taxa can be related to selected features so as to reflect upon the structural affinity between various features, species, genus and families. The Report module generates identification key for the family, genera or species.

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Laxmi Chauhan , Sangeeta Gupta , R. C. Madhwal , Rajiv Pandey

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The results of a study on the effect of spacing on wood specific gravity, selected wood anatomical parameters and tree growth in two 9-10 year old plantations of 3 clones of Populus deltoides are reported. Significant effect of spacing was observed on specific gravity, fibre length, fibre diameter, vessel diameter, tree height and girth. While specific gravity shows an increase at wide spacing, fibre length has been found to decrease in the two plantations.

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Laxmi Chauhan , Sangeeta Gupta , R. C. Madhwal , Rajiv Pandey , Mohinder Pal

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Variation in specific gravity and wood parameters was studied in 10 year old trees of 18 clones of Populus deltoides with promising growth rate. The sample discs were taken out at different heights viz. breast height, 25%, 50% and 75% of merchantable tree height. To study radial variation, each annual ring was sampled. Significant interclonal differences were observed in anatomical parameters and specific gravity while trees, within clones showed no significant effect. The specific gravity was found to be positively correlated with age, fibre length and vessel frequency and negatively related with fibre diameter and lumen diameter. A negative correlation was also observed between specific gravity and ring width. Within a tree, height and position of annual ring from pith had significant effect on fibre length, lumen diameter, vessel frequency and specific gravity. The specific gravity reaches maximum at 50% of tree height and fibre length at 25% of tree height showing decreasing trend upwards. At breast height fibre length and specific gravity increases rapidly pith outwards upto 6th year followed by a slower rate of increase upto 8th year with a tendency to level off from 8th year. Breast height values of specific gravity and fibre length have been found to be highly correlated with whole tree values for these two parameters. For the prediction of whole tree values from breast height values, regression models and multiplication factors have been derived for fibre length and specific gravity.

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Laxmi Chauhan , R. D. Raturi , Sangeeta Gupta

Abstract

Anatomical parameters of wood quality such as fibre characteristics, vessel frequency and diameter and proportion oftissues were examined in 8 year old trees of six Populus deltoides clones growing in plantations. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine clonal variations and effect of age on anatomical properties. The analysis indicated significant clonal variation in specific gravity, fibre length vessel length, fibre diameter, lumen diameter, vessel frequency and vessel diameter. The specific gravity, fibre lengt.h and vessel length also show an increase with age. The specific gravity has been found to be positively correlated with fibre length in all the clones but with vessel diameter only in 4 clones. A relative correlation was also observed between vessel area and specific gravity. Cell type percentage was not found to be significantly different among the clones but increase in fibre percentage is found to be related to the decrease in vessel percentage. The variation in wood quality parameters studied offers possibilities for selection of breeding stock with desirable wood quality.

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Laxmi Chauhan , S. P. Agrawal , Pradeep Kumar

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Light microscopic studies on epidermal features of Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro) Nakai have been described.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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Epidermal features of culm and leaf of three Indian species of the genus Thamnocalamus Munro as seen under the light microscope have been described.

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Laxmi Chauhan , R. D. Raturi , R. V. Rao , R. Dayal

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Wood Anatomy of 8 genera of Indian Flacourtiaceae has been described in detail. The study indicates that type of ray-vessel pitting and perforation plate are of diagnostic value in separating the genera Hydnocarpus and Gynocardia. The remaining genera have more or less similar anatomical features. However the important anatomical features have been tabulated for facilitating specific identification.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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Microscopic studies on epidermal features of culm and leaf of Thyrsostachyus oliveri have been described.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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Microscopic studies on epidermal features of culm and leaf of four species of Gigantochloa Kurz ex Munro have been described.

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Laxmi Chauhan , R. Dayal

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The wood structure of eight Indian specics of Michelia have been studied in detail with a view of determining features of diagnostic value for their identification. The study indicate that various anatomical characters viz. frequency, size and shape of vessels, presence/absence of oil cells in rays and presence/absence of spirals in vessels are likely of value for their specific delimitation. A tentative key has also been given.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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Epidermal features of culm and leaf of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich) Munro have been described.

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Laxmi Chauhan , R. Dayal

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Anatomical studles carried out on Boswellia serrata Roxb, Garuga pinnata Roxb., Lannea coromandelica Merr. and Spondias pinnata Knrz. with a view to ascertaining the diagnostic value of radial gum canals and cell inclusions indicate that features like size and frequency of gum canals, nature of epithelial cells and cell inclusions i e, occurrence of crystals and silica are likely to be of diagnostic value in identification of woods of these species.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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Light microscopical studies on the epidermal features of culm and leaf of Meloeanna bauifera (Roxb.) Kurz have been described.

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Laxmi Chauhan , S. S. Bisen , S. P. Agrawal

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This paper deals with the leaf epidermal features of 10 species of Bambusa Schreb. The observations are well illustrated through photomicrographs and the diagnostic features are tabulated for identification purposes.

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S. P. Agrawal , Laxmi Chauhan

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The wood structure of nine species of Eucalyptus have been studied in detail both under light and scanning electron microscope. They have been distinguished on the basis of various anatomical characters viz. vessel and parenchyma distribution, presence or absence of crystals in parenchyma and percentage of tri-seriate rays, and vestured pit morphology. Though microscopic features do help to some extent in the identification, ultrastrncture of vestured pits of vessels aod fibres have been found more useful in distinguishing different species studied.

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Laxmi Chauhan , S. S. Bisen , S. P. Agrawal

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A systematic study of leaf epidermis of Indian bamboos was undertaken under light microscope for facilitating their identification based on epidermal features. The present paper deals with 10 spcies of the genus Dendrocalamus Nees. Epidermal features of diagnostic value have been tabulated and illustrated through photomicrographs.

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Laxmi Chauhan , S. P. Agrawal , R. Dayal

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The results of the study on the effect of spacing and application of fertilise on wood specific gravity, fibre rength and tree groth in 8-year-old experimental plantations of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. Laid out in West Bengal and Gujarat are reported here. Spacing as well as application of fertilisers do not show any significant effect on specific gravity. Though the fibre length has heen found to differ significantly among the treatments, the trend is not consistent for any of the treatments in the two localities. While close spacing adversely affect the height and girth of the trees. The effect of application of fertilisers is not significant.

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S. K. Purkayastha , S. P. Agrawal , R. D. Tandon , Laxmi Chauhan

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The variation in the proportion of heartwood has been studied in 89 years old Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. trees, raised in four different plantations viz. Haldwani, Shahdol, Bangalore and Coimbatore. The heartwood volume calculated from its propogation in various discs, has been found to be significantly affected by the locality of growth; within a locality it is correlated with the girth at breast height.

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