Shiny beech wood is confirmed as an indicator of tension wood
Résumé
This study sought to develop a method to quantify tension wood areas in stem discs. It was suggested that the shiny appearance of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) could provide an indication of tension wood. Each of 21 stem discs were digitised and the images analysed. Small areas of the discs were selected, and from these areas, anatomical sections were stained with astra-blue and safranine and the stained sections were compared with the wood disc images. The analysis showed that the shape of shiny areas and tension wood were similar; moreover, the measured ratios of shiny wood and tension wood were in good agreement. This confirms the assumption that in Fagus sylvatica shiny wood corresponds to tension wood.