Pits Role in Embolism Repair of Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee

  • Chun, Su-Kyoung (Department of Wood Science and Technology, College of Forest Sciences, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Ahmed, Sheikh Ali (Department of Wood Science and Technology, College of Forest Sciences, Kangwon National University)
  • Published : 2007.05.25

Abstract

This report explains the intervessel pit dimension of Populus tomentiglandulosa and its role in embolism repair according to proposed mechanism by Zwieniecki and Holbrook, 2000. It was found that mean contact angle ( ) of water droplets on the inner surface of vessels was $56^{\circ}$. Openings into the bordered pits were typically elliptical. The angle of the bordered pit chamber ($2{\alpha}$) was found $142.17^{\circ}$. From the capillary equation $Pmax\;=\;Gcos\;(\;+{\alpha})$, it was found that mathematically the maximum pressure 0.08MPa created by pits, can be employed to force the air within the embolized vessel into solution.

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