Regulation mechanisms of cavitation at bordered pits as estimated by analyses of the structures

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04930
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Forest science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Sano Yuzou 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 教授 (90226043)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 重冨 顕吾 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 講師 (20547202) ; 山岸 祐介 北海道大学, 農学研究院, 助教 (80770247)
• Research Collaborator: Yamagishi Shohei ; Umebayashi Toshihiro ; Aoki Dan
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 有縁壁孔 / キャビテーション / 壁孔壁 / 道管相互壁孔 / 通水

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In an attempt to elucidate the regulation mechanisms of water flow and cavitation at bordered pits in trees, we revealed the fine structures of intervascular pit membranes and the presence or absence of gel-like incrustations on the pit membranes for a total of 28 species. The porosity of the pit membranes were largely varied among taxa. The gel-like incrustations were estimated as fatty acids. We also compared the sample preparation techniques for electron microscopy to find the intact structures of such delicate bordered pit membranes, and showed that a few traditional and novel methods were very useful for the purpose.

Free Research Field

木材機能解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

樹木の通水系において浄化フィルターや安全弁のような働きを担う壁孔の仕組みに関して、インタクトな微細構造とともに、当該分野でほとんど考慮されていなかったゲル状被覆物について多くの知見を得ることができた。また、古典的な電子顕微鏡技法から新規なミクロ解析技術まで、いくつかの研究手法の有効性についても明らかにすることができた。本研究は、特に樹木生理学、植物解剖学など基礎的分野において大きな貢献を果たすものと信じる。