Cryo-SEM/EDX study of the uptake and the radial movement of minerals in the tree trunk

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25292110
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Kuroda Katsushi 国立研究開発法人 森林総合研究所, 木材特性研究領域, 主任研究員 (90399379)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Itoh Yuko 国立研究開発法人森林総合研究所, 立地環境研究領域, 主任研究員 (60353588)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: クライオ / SEM / EDX / ミネラル / セシウム / 樹幹 / 放射柔細胞 / ICP-MS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ray parenchyma cells are a proposed pathway for the radial movement of some elements from the sapwood to the heartwood in the tree trunk. However, this function has not been demonstrated. In order to reveal the radial pathway of minerals in the tree trunk, a solution of the stable isotope cesium (Cs) was injected into the outer sapwood of Japanese cedar trees, and its radial movement through the xylem was traced at the cellular level using cryo-scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (cryo-SEM/EDX) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our findings provide the experimental facts that Cs is actively moved radially from sapwood toward intermediate wood through the ray parenchyma cells.

Free Research Field

樹木細胞学