Woody plant species richness and productivity relationship in a subtropical forest: The predominant role of common species.

A long-standing key issue for examining the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF), such as forest productivity, is whether ecosystem functions are influenced by the total number of species or the properties of a few key species. Compared with controlled ecosystem experiments, the BEF relationships in secondary forest remain unclear, as do the effects of common species richness and rare species richness on the variation in ecosystem functions. To address this issue, we conducted field surveys at five sampling sites (1 ha each) with subtropical secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest vegetation. We found (1) a positive correlation between species richness and standing aboveground biomass (AGB); (2) that common species were primarily responsible for the distribution patterns of species abundance and dominance; although they accounted for approximately 25% of the total species richness on average, they represented 86-91% of species abundance and 88-97% of species dominance; and (3) that common species richness could explain much more of the variation in AGB than total species richness (common species plus rare species) at both the site and plot scales. Because rare species and common species were not equivalent in their ability to predict productivity in the biodiversity-ecosystem productivity model, redundant information should be eliminated to obtain more accurate results. Our study suggested that woody plant species richness and productivity relationship in subtropical forest ecosystem can be explained and predicted by a few common species.

Electrical integrity and week-long oscillation in fungal mycelia.

The electrical potential of the mycelia of a cord-forming wood decay fungus, Pholiota brunnescens, was monitored for over 100 days on a plain agar plate during the colonization onto a wood bait. Causality analyses of the electrical potential at different locations of the mycelium revealed a clear and stable causal relationship with the directional flow of the electrical potential from the hyphae at the bait location to other parts of the mycelium. However, this causality disappeared after 60 days of incubation, coinciding with the onset of slow electrical oscillation at the bait location, which occurred over one week per oscillation cycle. We speculated that the hyphae that initially colonized the bait may act as a temporary activity center, which generates electrical signals to other parts of the mycelium, thereby facilitating the colonization of the entire mycelial body to the bait. The week-long electrical oscillation represents the longest oscillation period ever recorded in fungi and warrants further investigation to elucidate its function and stability in response to environmental stimuli.

Ecological stress memory in wood architecture of two Neotropical hickory species from central-eastern Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Drought periods are major evolutionary triggers of wood anatomical adaptive variation in Lower Tropical Montane Cloud Forests tree species. We tested the influence of historical drought events on the effects of ecological stress memory on latewood width and xylem vessel traits in two relict hickory species (Carya palmeri and Carya myristiciformis) from central-eastern Mexico. We hypothesized that latewood width would decrease during historical drought years, establishing correlations between growth and water stress conditions, and that moisture deficit during past tree growth between successive drought events, would impact on wood anatomical features. We analyzed latewood anatomical traits that developed during historical drought and pre- and post-drought years in both species. RESULTS: We found that repeated periods of hydric stress left climatic signatures for annual latewood growth and xylem vessel traits that are essential for hydric adaptation in tropical montane hickory species. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the existence of cause‒effect relationships in wood anatomical architecture and highlight the ecological stress memory linked with historical drought events. Thus, combined time-series analysis of latewood width and xylem vessel traits is a powerful tool for understanding the ecological behavior of hickory species.

Pinpointing Moisture: The Capacitive Detection for Standing Tree Health.

BACKGROUND: the feasibility of the capacitance method for detecting the water content in standing tree trunks was investigated using capacitance-based equipment that was designed for measuring the water content of standing tree trunks. METHODS: In laboratory experiments, the best insertion depth of the probe for standing wood was determined by measurement experiments conducted at various depths. The bark was to be peeled when specimens and standing wood were being measured. The actual water content of the test object was obtained by specimens being weighed and the standing wood being weighed after the wood core was extracted. RESULTS: A forecast of the moisture content of standing wood within a range of 0 to 180% was achieved by the measuring instrument. The feasibility of the device for basswood and fir trees is preliminarily studied. When compared to the drying method, the average error of the test results was found to be less than 8%, with basswood at 7.75%, and fir at 7.35%. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the measuring instrument has a wide measuring range and is suitable for measuring wood with low moisture content, as well as standing timber with high moisture content. The measuring instrument, being small in size, easy to carry, and capable of switching modes, is considered to have a good application prospect in the field of forest precision monitoring and quality improvement.

Superhydrophobic coatings reduce human bacterial foodborne pathogen attachment to woods used in fresh produce harvest and postharvest packing.

Wood is reportedly more difficult to maintain in hygienic condition versus other food contact materials, yet its use in produce packing and retail warrants efforts to reduce the risk of microbial pathogen contamination and attachment. This study characterized antifouling capabilities of fluorinated silanes applied to wood used in fresh edible produce handling to render the wood superhydrophobic and less supportive of bacterial pathogen attachment. Pine and oak cubic coupon surfaces were treated with 1% (w/w) silane or left untreated. Treated and untreated coupons were inoculated with Salmonella enterica or Listeria monocytogenes and held to facilitate pathogen attachment for 1, 4, or 8 h. Silane treatment of wood produced significant reductions in the proportions of strongly attaching cells for both pathogens versus loosely attaching cells (P < 0.01). Salmonella attachment demonstrated a dependency on wood treatment; silane-treated wood supported a lower fraction of strongly adhering cells (1.87 ± 1.24 log CFU/cm2) versus untreated wood (3.72 ± 0.67 log CFU/cm2). L. monocytogenes demonstrated significant declines in strongly attaching cells during extended exposure to silane-treated wood, from 7.59 ± 0.14 to 5.27 ± 0.68 log CFU/cm2 over 8 h post-inoculation. Microscopic analysis demonstrated silane treatment increased the surface roughness of both woods, leading to superhydrophobic conditions on wood surfaces, consequently decreasing strong attachment of pathogenic bacteria.

The Influence of Active Compounds of Chips Made from Different Wood Species on the Antioxidant, Oenological and Sensory Properties of Apple Wines.

Wood chips contain numerous active compounds that can affect the wine's characteristics. They are commonly used in red grape wines, whisky, cherry and brandy, but in fruit wines, production is not typically utilised. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of an oak barrel ageing with the effect of the addition of chips made from various types of wood (oak, maple, cherry, apple) and with various degrees of toasting to the apple wines on their antioxidant, oenological and sensory properties. The oenological parameters, the polyphenols content, antioxidant activity and content of volatile odour-active compounds were assessed. It was shown that ageing in the presence of wood chips had a less noticeable effect on the oenological and sensory parameters of the wine than barrel ageing. Moreover, wood chips used did not significantly affect the acidity, alcohol and extract content of apple wines. Wines aged in the presence of oak chips (particularly lightly toasted) exhibited the greatest increase in polyphenols, while the polyphenol content of wines aged in the presence of other chips was not dependent on their toasting degree. The ageing of fruit wines with wood chips influences the volatile profile and the olfactory sensations, which can improve their quality.

Two Paenibacillus spp. strains promote grapevine wood degradation by the fungus Fomitiporia mediterranea: from degradation experiments to genome analyses.

Ascomycetes, basidiomycetes and deuteromycetes can degrade wood, but less attention has been paid to basidiomycetes involved in Esca, a major Grapevine Trunk Disease. Using a wood sawdust microcosm system, we compared the wood degradation of three grapevine cultivars inoculated with Fomitiporia mediterranea M. Fisch, a basidiomycete responsible for white-rot development and involved in Esca disease. The grapevine cultivar Ugni blanc was more susceptible to wood degradation caused by F. mediterranea than the cultivars Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that F. mediterranea preferentially degrades lignin and hemicellulose over cellulose (preferential, successive or sequential white-rot). In addition, co-inoculation of sawdust with two cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacterial strains of Paenibacillus (Nakamura) Ash (Paenibacillus sp. (S231-2) and P. amylolyticus (S293)), enhanced F. mediterranea ability to degrade Ugni blanc. The NMR data further showed that the increase in Ugni blanc sawdust degradation products was greater when bacteria and fungi were inoculated together. We also demonstrated that these two bacterial strains could degrade the wood components of Ugni blanc sawdust. Genome analysis of these bacterial strains revealed numerous genes predicted to be involved in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation, as well as several other genes related to bacteria-fungi interactions and endophytism inside the plant. The occurrence of this type of bacteria-fungus interaction could explain, at least in part, why necrosis develops extensively in certain grapevine varieties such as Ugni blanc.

Progressive inhibition of C+H2O reaction in wood char packed bed by in-situ evolving H2: Experimental insights and theoretical analysis.

Previous research on Char reactions with gas phase compounds under micro-thermogravimetry systems shows that hydrogen inhibits heterogeneous char reactions. However, its impact on larger gasification systems with evolving hydrogen profiles remains largely unexplored. This study examines a macro-scale wood char bed to understand the influence of in situ evolving hydrogen on char reactions. When subjected to a specific steam flux, carbon conversion and pore morphology changes are mainly confined to the bed's upstream, with the downstream char retaining its original characteristics. Numerical investigations reveal over 75 % of species production and consumption occurs within the initial 20 % of bed height. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirms hydrogen-induced inhibition in downstream segments, showing a shift from C-OH to C-H bonds. Particle-scale analysis indicates significantly higher rates of hydrogen diffusion and adsorption compared to H2O, impeding downstream C+H2O reactions. Increased temperature, higher reactant concentrations, or reduced residence time can overcome this inhibition, enhancing conversion rates. These findings are critical for optimizing steam-to-biomass ratios in oxy-steam gasification systems for generating hydrogen-rich syngas.

Crucibles of Craft: Home Workshops and Leisurely Striving in Twentieth-Century U.S. Woodworking Magazines.

With more leisure time in the early to mid-twentieth century, more people in industrialized countries took up hobbies. One hobby-woodworking-became a favorite among men, especially homeowners. Beyond the familiar "do-it-yourselfers" there was an audience eager to learn about woodworking, and magazine publishers encouraged them to acquire new skills and home machinery. American publishers led the way, but workshop converts in English-speaking countries like Canada and the United Kingdom got the magazines and the message. The promise of creative leisure at home did not democratize the hobby. Monthly features and awards praising accomplished amateurs did not challenge social and economic norms but defined leisure success in conventional terms. Those with the income and space to maintain a hobby served as models for others whose circumstances were less ideal. Through its flagship publication, a machine manufacturer often acquiesced to the industrial-era pressures that hobbies sought to alleviate.

Organic particles and high pH in food waste anaerobic digestate enhanced NH4+ adsorption on wood-derived biochar.

Biogas residues (i.e., digestate) are rich in NH4+ that has great agricultural value but environmental risk if not recycled. Biochar can be an effective adsorbent retaining NH4+ from digestate. However, it remains unclear how the unique composition of digestate affects the capacity and mechanisms of NH4+ adsorption on biochar. This study examined the mechanisms and driving factors of NH4+ recovery from digestate containing different molecular-weight organic particles by using wood-derived biochar with or without H2O2 modification. Four solutions were prepared, including pure NH4+, synthetic NH4+ with multiple cations mimicking digestate solution, supernatant of digestate with small organic particles and dissolved organic matter, and digestate mixture containing supernatant and large organic particles. The results showed that compared with pure NH4+ solution, the adsorbed NH4+ was 42% lower in the synthetic NH4+ solution with multiple cations but was 2.2 time higher in the supernatant of digestate on two biochars following 48-h adsorption. Modified biochar did not change NH4+ adsorption in pure NH4+ solution despite higher specific surface area than raw biochar, but it increased the adsorption of NH4+ in digestate solutions with high pH (e.g., 4.03 vs. 3.37 mg N g-1 for modified and raw biochar, respectively, in the supernatant of digestate). Compared with the supernatant, the large organic particles in digestate mixture significantly but slightly decreased NH4+ adsorption on modified but not raw biochar. The desorption rate of NH4+ on the biochar was up to 74%-100%, and it was not supressed by the adsorption of organic particles in digestate. The findings here demonstrate the dominant role of electrostatic attraction in NH4+ adsorption, the important role of high pH and organic particles in digestate in facilitating NH4+ adsorption on biochar, and the suitability of the wood-derived biochar in recovering NH4+ from digestate and releasing N for agricultural application.

Effects of experimental canopy openness on wood-inhabiting fungal fruiting diversity across succession.

While the succession of terrestrial plant communities is well studied, less is known about succession on dead wood, especially how it is affected by environmental factors. While temperate forests face increasing canopy mortality, which causes considerable changes in microclimates, it remains unclear how canopy openness affects fungal succession. Here, we used a large real-world experiment to study the effect of closed and opened canopy on treatment-based alpha and beta fungal fruiting diversity. We found increasing diversity in early and decreasing diversity at later stages of succession under both canopies, with a stronger decrease under open canopies. However, the slopes of the diversity versus time relationships did not differ significantly between canopy treatments. The community dissimilarity remained mainly stable between canopies at ca. 25% of species exclusively associated with either canopy treatment. Species exclusive in either canopy treatment showed very low number of occupied objects compared to species occurring in both treatments. Our study showed that canopy loss subtly affected fungal fruiting succession on dead wood, suggesting that most species in the local species pool are specialized or can tolerate variable conditions. Our study indicates that the fruiting of the fungal community on dead wood is resilient against the predicted increase in canopy loss in temperate forests.

Isolation and screening of fungi for enhanced agarwood formation in Aquilaria sinensis trees.

Agarwood is a resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis that is formed in response to mechanical wounding. In the present study pre-treatment of Aquilaria sinensis was carried out, and then the dominant fungi were isolated and purified from the surface and electroshock holes of trees. The isolated Trichoderma sp. and Neurospora sp. were then screened for resistance against benzyl acetone and then inoculated into healthy Aquilaria sinensis trees. After six months, the agarwood was collected for analysis. The chemical composition of incense was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and 82 chemical constituents were identified. Agarwood products formed by using Trichoderma sp. and Neurospora sp. consisted of 50.22% and 48.71% ether extracts, respectively, which surpassed the 10% threshold specified by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Similarly, relative aromatic contents in the two agarwood products were 30.1% and 32.86%, while proportions of sesquiterpene constituents were 10.21% and 11.19%, respectively. These two agarwood-specific chemical constituents accounted for a large proportion of the total chemical composition, which showed that the generated agarwood was of good quality. The results of the study revealed that both Trichoderma sp. and Neurospora sp. were able to effectively induce agarwood production in Aquilaria sinensis trees in 6 months. This study expands the library of fungi that promote the production of agarwood from Aquilaria sinensis trees.

Quantitative analysis of commercial coating penetration into Fagus crenata wood using X-ray microtomography.

Recent advances in wood treatment include the use of eco-friendly coatings to improve the wood's dimensional stability and appearance. Assessing coating performance during its service life is critical for establishing a knowledge base for product optimization. Numerous approaches, including microimaging, are available for analyzing coating behavior. In addition to conventional microscopic techniques, high-resolution X-ray microtomography is a tool that provides nondestructive imaging of coatings and their substrates. In this study, we performed two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of tomographic reconstruction images of two coating types, spray and brush, to observe and assess the distribution of several commercial Japanese coating materials in Fagus crenata. X-ray images and plot profiles were used to determine the penetration depths and thicknesses of coatings. Each coated sample was scanned using X-ray microtomography, which allowed successful visualization and quantification of the coating penetration depth. Chemical content and concentration of the coating materials influenced penetration depth and amount.

Chemical and Energetic Characterization of the Wood of Prosopis laevigata: Chemical and Thermogravimetric Methods.

Diverse methodologies exist to determine the chemical composition, proximate analysis, and calorific value of biomass. Researchers select and apply a specific methodology according to the lignocellulosic material they study and the budgetary resources available. In this project, we determined the primary chemical constitution and proximate analysis of Prosopis laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl.) Jonhst wood using a traditional chemical method and a novel procedure based on the deconvolution of the DTG signal produced by TGA. The highest calorific value was verified using a calorimetric pump based on mathematical models. We also conducted elemental analysis and a microanalysis of ash, and applied Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis (FT-IR). The means of the results obtained by the chemical method and TGA-DTG, respectively, were: hemicelluloses 7.36%-(8.72%), cellulose 48.28%-(46.08%), lignin 30.57%-(32.44%), extractables 13.53%-(12.72%), moisture 2.03%-(4.96%), ash 1.77%-(1.90%), volatile matter 75.16%-(74.14%), and fixed carbon 23.05%-(18.93%). The procedure with the calorimetric pump generated a calorific value above 20.16 MJ/kg. The range generated by the various models was 18.23-21.07 MJ/kg. The results of the elemental analysis were: carbon 46.4%, hydrogen 6.79%, oxygen 46.43%, nitrogen 0.3%, and sulfur 0.5%. The microanalysis of ash identified 18 elements. The most abundant ones were potassium ˃ calcium ˃ sodium. Based on the infrared spectrum (FT-IR) of Prosopis laevigata wood, we detected the following functional groups: OH, C-H, C=O, CH2, CH3, C-O-C, C-OH, and C4-OH. Our conclusion is that the TGA-DTG method made it possible to obtain results in less time with no need for the numerous reagents that chemical procedures require. The calorific value of P. laevigata wood is higher than the standards. Finally, according to our results, proximate analysis provides the best model for calculating calorific value.

Cell Wall Modification Based on Combination Reagents to Improve Dimensional Stability of Wood with High Efficiency.

Although γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) was proved to be an effective reagent for improving the dimensional stability of wood, a bottleneck in ASE value (around 50%) existed. The reason was that MPS with low polarity opened few hydrogen bonds in the amorphous region of cellulose, while these hydrogen bonds could be reopened by water. Therefore, citric acid (CA) is chosen to cooperate with MPS to further enhance the dimensional stability of wood. In this paper, MPS and CA were used to modify wood individually (MW and CW) or with different combinations, that is, one-step modification (M/CW) and two-step modification with MPS first (M-CW) or CA first (C-MW). CA and MPS concentrations were optimized at 5 wt%. The ASE value for M/CW was only 25.74% at a weight percent gain (WPG) of 6.43%, which was only 0.6 times to MW or 0.7 times to CW. For M-CW, the ASE value gradually decreased with the soaking cycles, from 65.64% at a WPG of 9.05% to 51.20%. The C-MW had the best dimensional stability, with the ASE value 75.35% at a WPG of 11.50%. Although it decreased during the first soaking cycle, it stabilized at 62.20% at last. SEM and EDS images showed that the polymer mainly distributed in cell walls and few in cell lumen in C-MW. Thus, the enhanced dimensional stability of C-MW could be explained by CA opening the hydrogen bonds in the amorphous region of cellulose first, which provided more binding sites for MPS.

Combustion-Derived Pollutants Linked with Kidney Disease in Low-Lying Flood-Affected Areas in the Balkans.

Tens of thousands of people in southern Europe suffer from Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), and four times as many are at risk. Incidental ingestion of aristolochic acids (AAs), stemming from the ubiquitousAristolochia clematitis(birthwort) weed in the region, leads to DNA adduct-induced toxicity in kidney cells, the primary cause of BEN. Numerous cofactors, including toxic organics and metals, have been investigated, but all have shown small contributions to the overall BEN relative to non-BEN village distribution gradients. Here, we reveal that combustion-derived pollutants from wood and coal burning in Serbia also contaminate arable soil and test as plausible causative factors of BEN. Using a GC-MS screening method, biomass-burning-derived furfural and coal-burning-derived medium-chain alkanes were detected in soil samples from BEN endemic areas levels at up to 63-times and 14-times higher, respectively, than in nonendemic areas. Significantly higher amounts were also detected in colocated wheat grains. Coexposure studies with cultured kidney cells showed that these pollutants enhance DNA adduct formation by AA, - the cause of AA nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity. With the coincidence of birthwort-derived AAs and the widespread practice of biomass and coal burning for household cooking and heating purposes and agricultural burning in rural low-lying flood-affected areas in the Balkans, these results implicate combustion-derived pollutants in promoting the development of BEN.

Implications of accounting for marker-based population structure in the quantitative genetic evaluation of genetic parameters related to growth and wood properties in Norway spruce.

BACKGROUND: Forest geneticists typically use provenances to account for population differences in their improvement schemes; however, the historical records of the imported materials might not be very precise or well-aligned with the genetic clusters derived from advanced molecular techniques. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of marker-based population structure on genetic parameter estimates related to growth and wood properties and their trade-offs in Norway spruce, by either incorporating it as a fixed effect (model-A) or excluding it entirely from the analysis (model-B). RESULTS: Our results indicate that models incorporating population structure significantly reduce estimates of additive genetic variance, resulting in substantial reduction of narrow-sense heritability. However, these models considerably improve prediction accuracies. This was particularly significant for growth and solid-wood properties, which showed to have the highest population genetic differentiation (QST) among the studied traits. Additionally, although the pattern of correlations remained similar across the models, their magnitude was slightly lower for models that included population structure as a fixed effect. This suggests that selection, consistently performed within populations, might be less affected by unfavourable genetic correlations compared to mass selection conducted without pedigree restrictions. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the results of models properly accounting for population structure are more accurate and less biased compared to those neglecting this effect. This might have practical implications for breeders and forest managers where, decisions based on imprecise selections can pose a high risk to economic efficiency.

Enzyme activity test paper with high wet strength and anion adsorption properties fabricated from whole cationized softwood chemical fiber.

Paper-based test film material is widely used in a variety of test instruments for different applications. The enzyme activity test paper sheet is one of the most popularly used test papers. Here we present a novel fabrication of paper-based enzyme activity test paper without cationic resin added in. The chemical pulping fibers were first beaten to different degrees (from 14.6 to 41.5°SR) with a PFI beater. After that, the fibers were modified with a cationic agent (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) under the system of alkali and water solution. Finally, the test papers were made with the modified fiber by a regular paper former in lab. The results showed that beating is beneficial for the improvement of the cationization reaction which is indicated by the Zeta potential, FTIR and EDS. The main mechanisms involved are the destruction of crystalline zone, increase of free hydroxyl group and defibrillation. This hypothesis was supported by the SEM, XRD and fiber analyzer. Beating under the optimized condition, the wet strength and liquid absorbability of test paper can meet the application requirement, and the test results of enzyme activity are quite close to those of commercial test papers.

Cellulose-inspired approaches to sustainable EMI shielding materials: A comprehensive review.

Electromagnetic induction (EMI) shielding has become essential across various industries to counteract the detrimental impact of EMI on electronic devices and delicate machinery. Traditional EMI shielding materials, predominantly composed of metals and metal alloys, raise environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability and energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Consequently, demand for environmentally friendly materials for EMI shielding applications is rising. This comprehensive review focuses on sustainable materials derived from bamboo, wood, cellulose, biopolymers, and industrial recycled materials for EMI shielding. The study begins with an overview of the theoretical principles and mechanisms underlying EMI shielding, providing insights into the ideal requirements and structure-property relationships of shielding materials. Subsequently, various categories of sustainable materials for EMI shielding are compared, including aerogel-based, foam-based, nanocarbon (CNT/graphene)-based, nanocellulose-based, and hybrid biocomposites. These materials will be studied in-depth based on their material type, structure type, and production method, encompassing diverse approaches such as bottom-up synthesis, top-down fabrication, and composite assembly. Furthermore, the review highlights the difficulties and potential advantages linked with developing sustainable materials for EMI shielding. By exploring bamboo, wood, cellulose and biopolymer-based materials, this review contributes to the ongoing efforts in advancing sustainable practices in EMI shielding technology.

Optimization of mechanical properties and dimensional stability of densified wood using response surface methodology.

Wood has gained popularity as a building and decorative material due to its environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. Yet, its long maturation time poses a limitation on meeting the growing demand for wood products. This challenge has led to the plantation of fast-growing wood as an alternative solution. Unfortunately, the poor mechanical properties of fast-growing wood hinder its application. In this study, we developed novel densification-modified wood by combining alkali chemical pretreatment, cyclic impregnation, and mechanical hot-pressing techniques. Additionally, the response surface method was employed to rapidly determine the optimal preparation parameters, reducing the cost of preparation under various conditions. The optimized parameters resulted in densification-modified wood with a flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of 337.04 MPa and 27.43 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the densified wood achieved excellent dimensional stability by reducing the water-absorbing thickness swelling to 1.15 % for 72-h water soaking. The findings indicated that the densification-modified wood possessed high tensile strength and elastic modulus, along with excellent dimensional stability. The proposed densified wood modification technology in this study offers new perspectives and design guidance for the application of outdoor engineering structures, energy-efficient buildings, and decorative materials.