Pattern of parenchyma and canal resin composition in softwoods and hardwoods

Abstract

There is a general pattern of resin chemistry for parenchyma cells and secretory tissue. In sapwood the parenchyma resin is composed of fats, steryl esters, and occasionally waxes. Secretory tissue (most often resin canals) contains terpenes, terpenoids, and polyisoprenes. Other types of canal resin occur in a few hardwood families. The pattern is valid for softwoods and hardwoods. It has been denned from a comparison of available information on wood chemistry, wood anatomy, and the chemistry of oleoresin exudates from trees. This is a short overview with the most important references of two detailed reports.