Abstract
Abstract Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) grows in the Mediterranean basis including Portugal and is the main species producing cork which is used prevailingly in stopper industry. In our paper, cork from Quercus suber L. over three consecutive harvests from a traditional rainfed plot, between 1999 and 2017, and cork from an irrigated plot, harvested in 2017, were studied. We applied two X–ray image analysis technologies – X–ray micro-computed tomography and X–ray microdensitometry. Cork development, related with intern porosity, growth and density was studied with the objective of understanding the cork characteristics evolution over the years and with a different water regime. The outcomes of this study suggested an increase in density and porosity over harvests and a slight decrease of the cork growth. Cork samples from the irrigated plot, compared with cork from the same year of extraction in the rainfed plot, showed higher growth rate and higher porosity. The results demonstrated the contribution of climatic factor of precipitation as well as the silviculture model in cork characteristics, showing the relevance of the present work for the definition of the management practices. These may be determinant for enhancing cork quality and quantity production through silviculture measures. Our findings can be particularly useful for stakeholders especially under the conditions of Portugal in terms of increasing the value of the industrial chain of cork.
Highlights
Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is the main species responsible for cork production with sustainable and profitable exploration, growing in the Mediterranean basis
A reduction on cork growth over harvests for the same trees was found with the X–ray microdensitometer, at the same time that an increasing on cork density was revealed
The density curve (Fig. 8) showed an increasing on cork density trend, which can be explained by the smaller growths in the newest rings and consequent lower number of spring cells with thinner cell walls (Natividade 1934)
Summary
Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is the main species responsible for cork production with sustainable and profitable exploration, growing in the Mediterranean basis. Cork extracted from Quercus suber L. is mostly used to the cork stoppers industry (41.6% for natural cork stopper and 28.9% for other types of stoppers (APCOR 2019). Porosity is one of the main characteristics responsible for the type of stoppers developed and is in the basis of industrial classification, associated to cork growth in the radial direction and cork density. The porosity is affected by genetic and external factors as organisms or striping procedures and could be filled with a movable cellular material.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
