Comparison of Anatomical Characteristics for Wood Damaged by Oak Wilt and Sound Wood from Quercus mongolica

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomical characteristics of Quercus mongolica infested by oak wilt disease. To analysis the anatomical characteristics of the wood specimens infested by the oak wilt, the anatomical structures of an infected wood, a dead wood, and sound wood were observed at 10-year-old intervals from 10 to 50 annual rings using both an optical and a scanning electron microscope. The fiber length was measured in units of 5 annual rings from the pith, and the diameter of the vessel element and the ratio of the vessel including the tyloses were measured for each 10 annual ring. In the cross section, on the infected and dead wood specimens, mycelium was also observed with the tyloses in the vessel. There was no signification difference between the wood specimens in the fiber length and the vessel diameter of the vessel element. The fiber length was not difference after 20-30 annual rings which is a part of juvenile wood. The average of the vessel ratio including tyloses in the infected wood was the highest. Especially, the ratio of tyloses was the highest 40-50 annual rings in the infected wood and the dead wood. Therefore, the large difference between the infested wood by oak wilt and the sound wood was the ratio of tyloses. This result can be used as a basic data to utilize the infested wood.