Maceration of Softwood

Agathsis dammara

The funtion of tracheid is for conduction of water and mechanical support to the plant body.There are latewood tracheid and earlywood tracheid.

Earlywood tracheid:Large diameterThin wallLarge lumina

Latewood tracheid:Small diameterThick wallSmall lumina

4x magnification microscopic view

• Average length of fibre from the measurement on the macerated sample slide using the micrographical device is 3481.19 µm.

• Tracheid are long, narrow cells which is longer than the fibre in hardwood if compared

4x magnification microscopic view

PitsPits are parts of plant cell walls which allow the exchange of fluids. In the case of pressure changes in the cell lumen pit aspiration can occur. Agathsis dammara has a bordered pits (pinoid pit in cross-field). Bordered pits are cavities in the lignified cell walls of xylem conduits (vessels and tracheids) that are essential components in the water-transport system of higher plants.40x magnification

microscopic view

Cell wall

Lumen

The diameter of Agathis borneensis is 53.002 µm (mean). The mean of thickness of cell wall is 6.648 µmTracheid have a comparative narrow diameter but have large pits with less in number

40x magnification microscopic view