Studies on Variability of Wood Properties in Stem of Pinus koraiensis (II) - Differences in Tracheid Length, Microfibril Angle, and Compression Strength in South and North Sides of Stem -

Tracheid length, microfibril angle, and compression strength were examined in south and north sides of Pinus koraiensis. The sample tree was 57 years old and had been planted in central Korea. Tracheid length on the south side of the tree ranged from 2.87 to 3.40mm and on the north ranged from 3.60 to 3.53mm and mean values were 3.15 mm for the south and 3.26mm for the north. Tracheid length was 0.11 mm longer on the north side than on the south. Microfibril angle on the south side ranged from $12.6^{\circ}$ to $20.3^{\circ}$ and that on the north from $6.8^{\circ}$ to $13.5^{\circ}$; mean values were $16.6^{\circ}$ on the south side and $9.6^{\circ}$ on the north. Microfibril angle was $7.0^{\circ}$ greater on the south side than on the north side. For compression strength on the south and north sides, significant difference at the 95% level was found only at l.3m above the ground level of the sample tree; for compression limit stress, significant difference at this level was found at 1.3 and 5.3m above the ground level. However, compression strength and compression limit stress were greater on the north side than on the south side.