Does tension in the cellular membrane trigger compression wood formation?

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660139
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: SATO Saori 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 特任助教 (60641058)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YOSHIDA Masato 名古屋大学, 大学院生命農学研究科, 准教授 (30242845)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: あて材 / メカノセンシティブチャネル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

When considering efficient use of wood, existence of reaction wood becomes a problem. Reaction wood is a special tissue that is formed during secondary growth in an inclined stem. In the reaction wood region, high growth stress is generated and it causes cracks and warp at the time of cross cutting and lumbering. This study aimed to understand a mechanism of the reaction wood formation of conifers from a viewpoint of gene expression. The gene expression of mechanosensitive channels, which respond to external mechanical stimuli and change the concentration of calcium ion within the cells, were focused on. The results showed that the gene expression patterns within the stems had changed when the stimuli of inclination and bending were applied to the stems.

Free Research Field

木質分子生物学