Wood Quality of Ten-Year-Old Sentang (Azadirachta Excelsa) Grown from Seedlings and Rooted Cuttings

Seeds of sentang were exhibit recalcitrant and cannot be stored for a long period of time. So efforts have been made to propagate this species vegetatively via rooted cuttings technique. It is envisaged that for the technique to be deemed successful, the quality of wood that it produces should be comparable with or better than the wood extracted from the natural forest or established plantation via seedlings. The main objective of this study was to determine and compare the wood qualities of the trees grown from seedlings and rooted cuttings and to study the property variations within the tree. The specific objectives of these studies were to evaluate the macroscopic features, anatomical, physical, mechanical properties and resistance to fungal decay of sentang which grown from these two propagation techniques. Correlations between anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of the wood were also analysed. The studies of both types of wood were done at three different height levels, i.e bottom, middle and top and also in the sapwood and heartwood portion. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and further analysed using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at p ≤ 0.05. The barks of both types of wood were smooth and pinkish grey. There was significant difference in colour of sapwood and heartwood between these two propagation techniques where the sapwood from seedling trees was lighter than those from rooted-cutting trees. However, the heartwood of the latter was darker. The mean percentage of sapwood-heartwood ratio was not significantly different between these two types of wood and the amount of sapwood-heartwood ratio increased towards the top. The anatomical structure in both types of wood is similar with typical sentang. Vessels are diffuse, solitary or multiple, round to oval shaped and filled with dark-coloured dried extractives deposits in the heartwood. Apotracheal and paratracheal parenchyma are present in both types of wood. Tangential section shows multiseriate rays which mostly 2-3 cells wide and heterocellular rays were observed in the radial section in both types of wood. The rooted-cutting wood showed higher value in fibre dimensions, vessel diameter and proportion of vessels, whereas vessel density and proportion of fibre were higher in the seedling wood and proportion of rays was not significantly different between both types of wood. Both the seedling and rooted-cutting wood showed a decreasing trend towards the top in fibre dimensions, vessel diameter and proportion of rays. Increasing trend was observed in vessel density and proportions of vessels and fibres. The sapwood exhibited higher value in fibre dimensions, proportion of rays and larger vessel diameter but lower value in vessel density and proportions of vessels and fibres than the heartwood in the seedling wood However, in the rooted-cutting wood there was no significant difference between sapwood and heartwood in proportion of rays, vessels and fibres. Both types of wood were not significantly different in basic density. Moisture content at green condition and shrinkages in green to air-dry and green to oven-dry conditions were higher in the rooted-cutting wood, but tangential and radial shrinkages from green to oven-dry conditions showed no significant difference between both types of wood. The physical properties of both types of wood showed a decreasing trend from the bottom to the middle of the tree and then a slight increasing trend towards the top. Basic density was higher in the sapwood but moisture content and shrinkages in both conditions were higher in the heartwood. Compression and shear parallel to the grain were higher in the seedling wood, however MOE was higher in the rooted-cutting wood and MOR showed no significant difference between the seedling and rooted-cutting wood. Mechanical properties showed increasing trend towards the top and higher values in the heartwood in both types of wood. All the mechanical properties in the seedling and rooted-cutting wood were significantly related with vessel diameter, proportion of fibres and volumetric shrinkage with small correlation. Basic density was weakly correlated with mechanical properties in this present study. Both types of wood were classified as resistant with rooted-cutting wood being more resistance to white rot fungus (Lentinus sajor-caju) than the seedling wood. The resistance of the wood to fungal decay decreased towards the top and higher resistance was shown in the heartwood than the sapwood portion

Mechanical properties of 10-year-old sentang (Azadirachta excelsa) grown from vegetative propagation

Mechanical properties of 10-year-old sentang (Azadirachta excelsa) grown from vegetative propagation. This paper reports the mechanical properties of sentang (Azadirachta excelsa) wood cut from trees that were planted by vegetative propagation, their variations along tree height and also between sapwood and heartwood. The correlation between selected anatomical properties as well as density and mechanical properties were also presented. There was no significant difference in modulus of rupture between wood from seedling and rooted- cutting trees. However, wood from rooted-cutting trees showed higher modulus of elasticity compared with wood from seedling trees. On the other hand, compression and shear parallel to the grain were significantly higher in wood planted from seedling compared with wood from rooted-cutting trees. There was an increase in mechanical properties at the bottom portion towards the top irrespective of the planting technique. Mechanical properties were higher in heartwood than in sapwood. Mechanical properties were correlated with anatomical properties rather than density. Rooted cutting could be a promising method for planting sentang, apart from seedling

Ciri fizikal dan mikroskopi anatomi kayu Malvaceae subfamili Bombacoideae dan Helicteroideae

Kajian mengenai ciri fizikal dan mikroskopi anatomi kayu telah dijalankan pada 36 spesies Malvaceae subfamili Bombacoideae (genus Bombax) dan Helicteroideae (genus Coelostegia, Durio, Kostermansia dan Neesia) di Malaysia. Objektif kajian ini ialah untuk menentukan kesesuaian penempatan genus Bombax dan Coelostegia, Durio, Kostermansia dan Neesia di bawah subfamili berbeza iaitu Bombacoideae and Helicteroideae dengan membandingkan hasil analisis fenetik berangka dan pengelasan berdasarkan molekul DNA; menentukan kesesuaian penempatan kelompok Helicteroideae: Durioneae di bawah subfamili Helicteroideae bersama dengan genus kelompok Helicteroideae s.s.; dan menyemak status Boschia sama ada sebagai genus tersendiri atau perlu digabungkan dengan Durio. Hasil analisis fenetik berangka menyokong cadangan pengelasan berdasarkan molekul DNA yang mengasingkan Bombax (Bombacoideae) daripada subfamili Helicteroideae. Keputusan analisis fenetik berangka juga menunjukkan bahawa kelompok Helicteroideae: Durioneae (Coelostegia, Durio, Kostermansia dan Neesia) perlu dikeluarkan daripada subfamili Helicteroideae dan dicadangkan untuk diletakkan di bawah subfamili baharu iaitu Durionoideae. Sebaliknya, kajian ini menolak cadangan pengelasan yang menaikkan subfamili Bombacoideae kepada famili Bombacaceae, subfamili Helicteroideae s.s. kepada famili Helicteradaceae dan subfamili Helicteroideae: Durioneae kepada famili Durionaceae. Hasil analisis fenetik berangka menunjukkan Boschia perlu digabungkan dengan Durio

Resistance improvement of rubberwood treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles and phenolic resin against white-rot fungi, Pycnoporus sanguineus

Phenolic resin or phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin containing different percentage of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was prepared and used to treat rubberwood. Three types of treatment solutions were prepared, namely (1) low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde resin (LMwPF), (2) 1,5 wt % nano ZnO dissolved in water (ZnO/H2O), and (3) combination of both LMwPF and 1,5 wt % nano ZnO (LMwPF/ZnO). The rubberwood samples were submerged into the treatment solutions for 60, 90, and 120 min, before vacuum impregnation. The untreated rubberwood samples served as the controlled samples. The thermal stability behaviour and resistance against white-rot fungi (Pycnoporus sanguineus) of the treated rubberwood samples were evaluated. The results reveal that the treated rubberwood had slightly better thermal stability compared to the untreated samples. In terms of decay resistance, the rubberwood treated with LMwPF and LMwPF/ZnO possess very high resistance against white-rot fungi. On the other hand, the rubberwood treated with ZnO/H2O did not attain similar effectiveness as the other two treatments, except for the samples that were submerged in ZnO/H2O for 120 min. The results indicate that 1,5 wt % nano ZnO could be sufficient in imparting superior durability to rubberwood provided that longer submersion time is adopted

Resistance improvement of rubberwood treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles and phenolic resin against white-rot fungi, Pycnoporus sanguineus

Phenolic resin or phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin containing different percentage of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was prepared and used to treat rubberwood. Three types of treatment solutions were prepared, namely (1) low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde resin (LMwPF), (2) 1.5 wt % nano ZnO dissolved in water (ZnO/H2O), and (3) combination of both LMwPF and 1.5 wt % nano ZnO (LMwPF/ZnO). The rubberwood samples were submerged into the treatment solutions for 60, 90, and 120 min, before vacuum impregnation. The untreated rubberwood samples served as the controlled samples. The thermal stability behaviour and resistance against white-rot fungi (Pycnoporus sanguineus) of the treated rubberwood samples were evaluated. The results reveal that the treated rubberwood had slightly better thermal stability compared to the untreated samples. In terms of decay resistance, the rubberwood treated with LMwPF and LMwPF/ZnO possess very high resistance against white-rot fungi. On the other hand, the rubberwood treated with ZnO/H2O did not attain similar effectiveness as the other two treatments, except for the samples that were submerged in ZnO/H2O for 120 min. The results indicate that 1.5 wt % nano ZnO could be sufficient in imparting superior durability to rubberwood provided that longer submersion time is adopted

Effects of age and height on selected properties of Malaysian bamboo (Gigantochloa levis)

Effects of age and height on the fibre morphology, density, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of Gigantochloa levis (buluh beting) were studied on 2- and 4-year-old bamboo. There was no significant difference in bamboo properties in relation to age, except that the 4-year-old bamboo had thicker fibre wall. However, culm height affected fibre length and density at both ages. Fibre diameter, fibre wall thickness, MOR and MOE differed significantly with height in 2-year-old bamboo

Comparative leaf anatomy and micromorphology of thunbergia erecta (benth.) t. anderson and thunbergia laurifolia lindl. in peninsular Malaysia

Comparative leaf anatomy and micromorphology study was carried out on two selected species from the genus Thunbergia Retz. of Acanthaceae subfamily Thunbergioideae. These two investigated species were T. erecta and T. laurifolia from Peninsular Malaysia. The leaf anatomical study involve several methods such as cross- section using sliding microtome on the petioles, midribs, lamina and marginal, leaf epidermal peeling, leaf clearing and observation under a light microscope. The leaf micromorphology method involve the observation under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study aimed to investigate the taxonomic value of leaf anatomy and micromorphology characteristics of genus Thunbergia. The results have shown that there were five common characteristics present in both species studied and several variable characters that might be useful for species differentiation of T. erecta and T. laurifolia. The five common characteristics recorded were the presence of raphide, sinuous anticlinal walls, diacytic stomata, majority opened and minority closed venation in lamina and the presence of peltate glandular (unicellular terminal) trichome. The variable characteristics included were petiole, and marginal outlines, types of vascular bundles, the presence of druse, marginal venation, stomata occurrence, types of wax, cuticular sculpturing and types of trichomes. In conclusion, findings in this study showed that leaf anatomical micromorphological characteristics possessed taxonomic value that can be used in the species identification for the genus Thunbergia specifically for T. erecta and T. laurifolia

Effects of weathering on mechanical properties and surface roughness of Endospermum malaccense wood modified with propionic anhydride

This study evaluated some properties of sesenduk (Endospermum malaccense) wood treated with propionic anhydride and exposed to outdoor conditions for up to one year. Defect-free samples of sesenduk were extracted with a 3:1:1 (v/v) mixture of toluene, ethanol and acetone for 3 hours at a temperature of 100°C. The samples were then modified at the same temperature for another 3 hours using propionic anhydride and 10% sodium formate as catalyst. Modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and parallel-to-grain compression strength of the samples exposed to weathering were tested. Chemical treatment reduced the MOE but slightly increased the MOR and parallel-to-grain compression strength compared with untreated samples. However, treated samples retained higher strength properties than untreated ones. The modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and parallel-to-grain compression strength of treated samples at radial orientation were respectively 20%, 31% and 62% higher than those of untreated samples after one year’s outdoor exposure. Weathering adversely influenced the surface quality of the specimens for all exposure times

Wood Anatomical Features of Anacardiaceae from Malaysia

This study examined the anatomical features of Anacardiaceae from Malaysia. A total of 31 species from 13 genera of the family Anacardiaceae in Malaysia were obtained from Kepong Xylarium (KEPw), Forest Research Institute Malaysia. The genera in Anacardiaceae were distinguished based on anatomical features. The diagnostic anatomical features that were used to separate the genera are scalariform perforations plates present in Campnosperma, larger rays in Pentaspadon and Spondias, and radial canals in some genera. Mineral inclusion, i.e., crystals and silica also could be diagnostic features to distinguish the genera in Malaysian Anacardiaceae; silica was observed in Gluta, Parishia, and Swintonia. Anatomical features could be used as indicators to the other wood properties and lead to potential usage of timber in Anacardiaceae. However, the presence of druses in individual Toxicodendron succedaneum indicated its adaptation to the local microclimatic conditions

Anatomical and physical properties of three lesser-known timber species from Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to determine the anatomical and physical properties of three lesser-known Malaysian timber species, i.e., mahang (Macaranga hosei), medang (Litsea costalis), and terap (Artocarpus scortechinii). Correlation factors that influenced the density and shrinkage were also discussed. From the results obtained, terap wood had the longest fibre (1421 µm), followed by medang (1309 µm), and mahang (1161 µm). Terap, medang, and mahang were categorized as having very thin fibres. The density of terap, medang, and mahang had average values of 504 kg/m 3 , 485 kg/m 3 , and 474 kg/m 3 , respectively. In addition, terap wood also showed the highest shrinkage, followed by mahang and medang wood. This present study showed that the density was significantly influenced by the fibre length, fibre wall thickness, vessel diameter, and number of vessels. In addition, the shrinkage was highly correlated with the density. In conclusion, mahang, medang, and terap wood could be an alternative raw material to fulfill demand in wood- based industries