Capillary Flow in Different Cells of Thuja orientalis, Gmelina arborea, Phellodendron amurense

A study was carried out to observe the 1% aqueous safranine solution flow speed in longitudinal and radial directions of softwood Thuja orientalis L., diffuse-porous wood Gmelina arborea Roxb., and ring-porous wood Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Longitudinal flow was considered from bottom to top while the radial flow was considered from bark to pith directions. In radial direction, ray cells and in longitudinal direction tracheids, vessel and wood fiber were considered for the measurement of liquid penetration speed at less than 12% moisture contents(MC). The variation of penetration speed for different species was observed and the reasons behind for this variation were explored. The highest radial penetration depth was found in ray parenchyma of T. orientalis but the lowest one was found in ray parenchyma of P. amurense. The average liquid penetration depth in longitudinal trachied of T. orientalis was found the highest among all the other cells. The penetration depth in fiber of G. arborea was found the lowest among the other longitudinal cells. It was found that cell dimension and also meniscus angle of safranine solution with cell walls were the prime factors for the variation of liquid flow speed in wood. Vessel was found to facilitate prime role in longitudinal penetration for hardwood species. The penetration depth in vessel of G. arborea was found highest among all vessels. Anatomical features like ray parenchyma cell length and diameter, end-wall pits number were found also responsible fluid flow differences. Initially liquid penetration speed was high and the nit gradually decreased in an uneven rate. Liquid flow was captured via video and the penetration depths in those cells were measured. It was found that even in presence of abundant rays in hardwood species, penetration depth of liquid in radial direction of softwood species was found high. Herein the ray length, lumen area, end wall pit diameter determined the radial permeability. On the other hand, vessel and fiber structure affected the longitudinal flow of liquids. Following a go-stop-go cycle, the penetration speed of a liquid decreased over time.