A systems biology view of wood formation in Eucalyptus grandis trees submitted to different potassium and water regimes.

Wood production in fast-growing Eucalyptus grandis trees is highly dependent on both potassium (K) fertilization and water availability but the molecular processes underlying wood formation in response to the combined effects of these two limiting factors remain unknown. E. grandis trees were submitted to four combinations of K-fertilization and water supply. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and MixOmics-based co-regulation networks were used to integrate xylem transcriptome, metabolome and complex wood traits. Functional characterization of a candidate gene was performed in transgenic E. grandis hairy roots. This integrated network-based approach enabled us to identify meaningful biological processes and regulators impacted by K-fertilization and/or water limitation. It revealed that modules of co-regulated genes and metabolites strongly correlated to wood complex traits are in the heart of a complex trade-off between biomass production and stress responses. Nested in these modules, potential new cell-wall regulators were identified, as further confirmed by the functional characterization of EgMYB137. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of wood formation under stressful conditions, pointing out both known and new regulators co-opted by K-fertilization and/or water limitation that may potentially promote adaptive wood traits.

Studies on cambial activity: advances and challenges in the knowledge of growth dynamics of Brazilian woody species.

The lack of specific research on the sequence of events that determine plant growth from meristem until wood formation represents a gap in the knowledge of growth dynamics in woody species. In this work, we surveyed published studies concerning cambial activity of Brazilian native species aiming at allowing the comparison of applied methods and obtained results. The annual cambial seasonality was observed in all the investigated species. Nevertheless, we found high heterogeneity in the used methodologies. As a result from this analysis, our opinion points to the need for standardizing sampling protocols and for discussing the suitability of experimental designs. This will help to define with greater precision the factors that determine the radial growth in the different tropical ecosystems.

Climate variability of the southern Amazon inferred by a multi-proxy tree-ring approach using Cedrela fissilis Vell.

The analysis of climate variability and development of reconstructions based on tree-ring records in tropical forests have been increasing in recent decades. In the Amazon region, ring width and stable isotope long-term chronologies have been used for climatic studies, however little is known about the potential of wood traits such as density and chemical concentrations. In this study, we used well-dated rings of Cedrela fissilis Vell. from the drought-prone southern Amazon basin to assess the potential of using inter-annual variations of annually-resolved ring width, wood density, stable oxygen isotope (δ18OTR) measured in tree-ring cellulose and concentration of Sulfur (STR) and Calcium (CaTR) in xylem cells to study climate variability. During wet years, Cedrela fissilis produced wider and denser rings with higher CaTR and lower STR, as well as depleted δ18OTR values. During dry years, a wider range of responses was observed in growth, density and STR, while lower CaTR and enriched δ18OTR values were found. The annual centennial chronologies spanning from 1835 to 2018 showed good calibration skills for reconstructing local precipitation, evapotranspiration (P-PET), Amazon-wide rainfall, as well as climate modes related to sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies such as El Niño South Oscillation (ENSO), Tropical Northern Atlantic (TNA), and the Western Hemisphere Warm Pool (WHWP) oscillations. CaTR explained 42 % of the variance of local precipitation (1975-2018), RW explained 30 % of the P-PET variance (1975-2018), while δ18OTR explained 60 % and 57 % of the variance of Amazon rainfall (1960-2018) and El Niño 3.4 (1920-2018), respectively. Our results show that a multi-proxy tropical tree-ring approach can be used for high-reliable reconstructions of climate variability over Amazon basin at inter-annual and multidecadal time scales.

Clues about wood density and trace-element variability of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby for bioenergy use.

The interest of biofuel producers in Neotropical species that have high growth rates, slight wood density variability, and elemental composition that does not compromise the environment has increased in recent decades. We investigated the density and chemical characteristics of wood of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber × Ducke) Barneby as a source for the generation of bioenergy. Apparent radial wood density profiles (X-ray densitometry (XRD)) and the elemental distribution (X-ray fluorescence (XRF)) of Cl, S, K, and Ca in the wood of nine S. parahyba var. amazonicum trees, divided into three diameter classes (I = 15.5, II = 19.5, and III = 23.5 cm) were analyzed. The high heating value (HHV) of the wood samples was determined, and the energy density was estimated by the product of the HHV and the apparent density. Trees that grew better (classes II and III) produced wood with higher density. These trees showed higher concentrations of K and S, and lower concentrations of Ca and Cl. The highest Cl concentrations were observed in classes with smaller diameters. The chlorine levels met the standards for use of this wood as fuel, but the sulfur levels were higher than the threshold recommended by the ISO 17225-3:2021 guidelines, which can limit the use of the species for certain energy uses. The wood of S. parahyba var. amazonicum had interesting characteristics for the production of bioenergy due to its low density, so it can be used in the production of solid biofuels such as pellets and briquettes. Monitoring chlorine and sulfur is important, since during the combustion of biomass they are released into the atmosphere and can negatively contribute to the effects of climate change.

Trace elements distribution in tropical tree rings through high-resolution imaging using LA-ICP-MS analysis.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of trace elements in tree rings although poorly known may be useful to better understand environmental changes, pollution trends, long-term droughts, forest dieback processes, and biology of trees. METHOD: Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used for imaging micronutrients and potentially toxic elements distribution, allowing the investigation of trace elements at high spatial resolution within the tree rings. To ensure a more efficient determination of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements, LA-ICP-MS instrumental conditions were optimized and carbon, a major element in wood, is used as an internal standard during analysis to correct for random fluctuations. RESULTS: Spatial distributions maps of Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in growth layers of six tropical tree species were built-up using the LA-iMageS software, namely: Amburana cearensis (Fabaceae), Cedrela fissilis (Meliaceae), Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae), Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae), Parapiptadenia zehntneri (Fabaceae), Peltogyne paniculata (Fabaceae). A correlation between the trace element composition and different cell types (parenchyma, fiber, and vessel) was distinctly observed. It was observed a general pattern of Ba, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Pb accumulation mainly in the axial parenchyma and vessels. But the elemental composition of xylem cells is strongly species dependent. The multivariate analysis also points to a distinct accumulation of minerals between heartwood and sapwood in the same species. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging both essential and deleterious element distributions in the tree rings may improve visualization and can effectively contribute to understanding the lifetime metabolism of trees and evaluating the effects of environmental changes related to climatic seasonality, pollution, and future paleoclimate reconstructions.

Space-resolved determination of the mineral nutrient content in tree-rings by X-ray fluorescence.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) offers rapid, multi-elemental, low cost and non-destructive elemental analysis. Different studies have used this technique to investigate distribution and concentration of essential and deleterious elements in vegetation. Special emphasis has been recently placed on the key aspects concerning sampling processes, laboratory protocols and calibration methods for quantitative analysis. The aim of the present study was to develop a quantitative methodology to determine the nutrient content in Pinus taeda tree-rings by XRF. Using a 1 mm X-ray excitation beam from a Rh X-ray tube at 30 kV and 600 µA, and dwell time of 20 s, we present calibration curves for P, S, K, Ca, Mn and Fe based on multi-elemental standard addition using wood matrix of 17-year-old Pinus taeda trees. Satisfactory recoveries of our XRF approach for Ca, P, Mn, S and K (<115%), and tolerable for Fe (123%) were obtained compared to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry results. The non-destructive and quantitative XRF method allows assessing annual element concentrations of P. taeda trees, in order to provide tools for monitoring the nutrient dynamic in an experimental plantation. Furthermore, a method for elemental quantification based on multi-elemental standard addition using wood matrix is described as a useful procedure for future applications.

Amazonian trees show increased edge effects due to Atlantic Ocean warming and northward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone since 1980.

Recent investigations indicate a warming of Atlantic Ocean surface waters since 1980, probably influenced by anthropic actions, inducing rainfall intensification mainly during the rainy season and slight reductions during the dry season in the Amazon. Under these climate changes, trees in upland forests (terra firme) could benefit from the intensification of the hydrological cycle and could also be affected by the reduction of precipitation during the dry season. Results of dendrochronological analyses, spatial correlations and structural equation models, showed that Scleronema micranthum (Ducke) Ducke (Malvaceae) trees exposed in fragmented areas and to edge effects in Central Amazonian terra firme forest were more sensitive to the increase in the Atlantic Ocean surface temperature and consequent northward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, mainly during the dry season. Therefore, we proved that in altered and potentially more stressful environments such as edges of fragmented forests, recent anthropogenic climatic changes are exerting pressure on tree growth dynamics, inducing alterations in their performance and, consequently, in essential processes related to ecosystem services. Changes that could affect human well-being, highlighting the need for strategies that reduce edge areas expansion in Amazon forests and anthropic climate changes of the Anthropocene.

Herramientas de corte para optimizar parámetros de clasificación de especies maderables con redes neuronales convolucionales / Cutting tools to optimize classification parameters of timber species with convolutional neural networks

Introducción: La gran diversidad de especies maderables tropicales demanda el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías de identificación con base en sus patrones o características anatómicas. La aplicación de redes neuronales convolucionales (CNN) para el reconocimiento de especies maderables tropicales se ha incrementado en los últimos años por sus resultados prometedores. Objetivo: Evaluamos la calidad de las imágenes macroscópicas con tres herramientas de corte para mejorar la visualización y distinción de las características anatómicas en el entrenamiento del modelo CNN. Métodos: Recolectamos las muestras entre el 2020 y 2021 en áreas de explotación forestal y aserraderos de Selva Central, Perú. Luego, las dimensionamos y, previo a la identificación botánica y anatómica, las cortamos en secciones transversales. Generamos una base de datos de imágenes macroscópicas de la sección transversal de la madera, a través del corte, con tres herramientas para ver su rendimiento en el laboratorio, campo y puesto de control. Resultados: Usamos tres herramientas de corte para obtener una alta calidad de imágenes transversales de la madera; obtuvimos 3 750 imágenes macroscópicas con un microscopio portátil que corresponden a 25 especies maderables. El cuchillo ''Tramontina'' es duradero, pero pierde el filo con facilidad y se necesita una herramienta para afilar, el cúter retráctil ''Pretul'' es adecuado para madera suave y dura en muestras pequeñas de laboratorio; el cuchillo ''Ubermann'' es apropiado para el campo, laboratorio y puesto de control, porque tiene una envoltura duradera y láminas intercambiables en caso de pérdida de filo. Conclusiones: La calidad de las imágenes es decisiva en la clasificación de especies maderables, porque permite una mejor visualización y distinción de las características anatómicas en el entrenamiento con los modelos de red neuronal convolucional EfficientNet B0 y Custom Vision, lo cual se evidenció en las métricas de precisión.

Introduction: The great diversity of tropical timber species demands the development of new technologies capable of identifying them based on their patterns or anatomical characteristics. The application of convolutional neural networks (CNN) for the recognition of tropical timber species has increased in recent years due to the promising results of CNNs. Objective: To evaluate the quality of macroscopic images with three cutting tools to improve the visualization and distinction of anatomical features in the CNN model training. Methods: Samples were collected from 2020 to 2021 in areas of logging and sawmills in the Central Jungle, Peru. They were later sized and, after botanical and anatomical identification, cut in cross sections. A database of macroscopic images of the cross-section of wood was generated through cutting with three different tools and observing its performance in the laboratory, field, and checkpoint. Results: Using three cutting tools, we obtained high quality images of the cross section of wood; 3 750 macroscopic images were obtained with a portable microscope and correspond to 25 timber species. We found the ''Tramontina'' knife to be durable, however, it loses its edge easily and requires a sharpening tool, the ''Pretul'' retractable cutter is suitable for cutting soft and hard wood in small laboratory samples and finally the ''Ubermann'' knife is suitable for use in the field, laboratory, and checkpoint, because it has a durable sheath and interchangeable blades in case of dullness. Conclusion: The quality of the images is decisive in the classification of timber species, because it allows a better visualization and distinction of the anatomical characteristics in training with the EfficientNet B0 and Custom Vision convolutional neural network models, which was evidenced in the precision metrics.

Brazilian cerrado species: wood characteristics / Espécies do cerrado brasileiro: características da madeira

The characterization of wood anatomy and proprieties can provide subsidies for rational use of tree species. Enables, oftentimes, the definition of technological potential of wood - and wood products - through the assessment of quality information and also allows it ́s correct identification, contributing to the timber production chain. The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge about wood properties of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna) species trough the anatomical characterization and determination of density profile. Twenty trees species belonging to thirteen families occurring in Pirenópolis, Goiás and Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, was selected and radial samples were removed from the tree trunks at the DBH (1.30 m) in a non-destructive way using an incremental probe and a motorized extractor. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical parameters of vessels and fibers and the wood density were determined in the collected samples. Species presented fibers with mean values between 900.5 and 2052.9 µm for the length; 18.1 and 27.7 µm for the diameter; and 4.4 to 9.4 µm for the wall thickness. The species presented a variation in the vessel dimensions from 29.2 to 155.6 µm for the diameter; 17.7 to 32.5% for occupied area; and 2.6 to 165 to vessels.mm-2. The apparent density presented mean values between 0.36 and 1.21 g cm-3. The specie that presented the highest variation of wood density was A. fraxinifolium. According to the radial profiles two patterns of increasing and stable variation in the apparent density of the pith to bark were defined as a function of the wood anatomical characteristics.

A caracterização anatômica e das propriedades da madeira pode auxiliar na tomada de decisão quanto ao uso racional de espécies. Possibilita, muitas vezes, a definição do potencial tecnológico da madeira - e produtos - fornecendo acesso a informações sobre a sua qualidade, além de sua correta identificação, contribuído com a cadeia produtiva madeireira. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar e caracterizar as propriedades da madeira de espécies arbóreas do Cerrado, através da descrição anatômica e determinação do perfil de densidade. Foram selecionadas 20 espécies pertencentes a treze famílias, na cidade de Pirenópolis, Goiás e Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil, e amostras radiais foram retiradas dos troncos das árvores no DAP (1,30 m) de forma não destrutiva, utilizando-se uma sonda de incremento e um extrator motorizado. Nas amostras coletadas, foram determinados os parâmetros anatômicos qualitativos e quantitativos dos vasos e das fibras e a densidade aparente da madeira. As espécies apresentaram fibras com valores médios entre 900,5 a 2052,9 µm para o comprimento; 18,1 a 27,7 µm para o diâmetro e 4,4 a 9,4 µm para a espessura da parede; e variação nas dimensões dos vasos de 29,2 a 155,6 µm para o diâmetro; 17,7 a 32,5% para área ocupada; e 2,6 a 165 vasos.mm-2 para a frequencia dos vasos. A densidade aparente apresentou valores médios entre 0,36 e 1,21 g cm-3. A espécie que apresentou a maior variação de densidade de madeira foi A. fraxinifolium. De acordo com os perfis radiais, dois padrões de variação crescente e estável na densidade aparente, da medula para casca, foram definidos como uma função das características anatômicas.