Qualitative anatomical characteristics of compression wood, lateral wood, and opposite wood in a stem of Ginkgo biloba L

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand and to compare the qualitative aspects of anatomical characteristics in compression wood (CW), lateral wood (LW), and opposite wood (OW) in a stem of Ginkgo biloba. The qualitative analysis was examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. CW in Ginkgo biloba disks were dark brown in color, and the OW and LW were light brown in color. CW and OW showed abrupt transitions from earlywood to latewood, while LW showed a gradual transition. Cross sections of CW presented circular tracheids with angular outlines, many intercellular spaces, and varying sizes of lumens. Cross sections of LW and OW showed rectangular tracheids, fewer intercellular spaces, and varying sizes of lumens. In radial sections, CW showed an irregular arrangement of tracheids in earlywood, while LW and OW showed comparatively regular arrangements. Slit-like bordered pits on the tracheid cell wall, piceoid pits in the crossfield, and a few spiral checks were present in CW. LW and OW showed bordered pits with slightly oval-shaped apertures, as well as cuppresoid pits in the crossfields. Rays were primarily uniseriate, with few biseriate rays in the tangential sections of CW, LW, and OW. The tips of the tracheids were branched in CW but had a normal appearance in LW and OW.