Comparing wood anatomy of root and stem of Syzygium sp from natural tropical forest of Papua

Abstract

Root and stem wood anatomy of Syzygiumspfrom the natural tropical forest of Fakfak Districts, Papua Barat, Indonesia were studied. The study focused on vessel, fiber and parenchyma. Growth increments are not distinct, yet we observed that Syzygiumsphas diffuse porosity and predominantly paratracheal with winged aliform of axial parenchyma in the wood of both root and stem. Many qualitative features were varying in the same way in both root and stem: simple perforation plates in vessel elements; large areas of axial parenchyma in both root and stem wood. Quantitative features differing between root and stem wood were evaluated using t-test, and vessel frequency, vessel element length, vessel diameter, percentage of tree wood’s tissues, and vulnerability are differed. Root wood had vessels density/frequency, narrower and longer vessel elements. We assumed that root wood is less vulnerability of embolism compared to the stem wood as the narrower of the vessel diameter and the higher percentage of parenchyma area. Roots seem to be more susceptible to water stress and the stain than the stem as seen in the percentage and the dimension of the vessel and parenchyma.