Pit Membrane Structure in Loblolly Pine as Influenced By Solvent Exchange Drying

Split radial sections of springwood from a 30-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were prepared using a solvent exchange drying technique which eliminated aspiration of bordered pits. Replicas of the sections were examined and photo-micrographs taken with an electron microscope. A primary wall type of structure was detected in the outermost portion of the margo. The density of the margo and therefore the size of the openings varied considerably from pit to pit. The accumulated evidence indicates that the size of the openings measured from aspirated pits may be overestimated because the fine micro-fibril strands are difficult to detect. De-aspiration of pits and subsequent solvent exchange drying revealed that aspiration has little, if any, effect on the margo structure as had been previously hypothesized.

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