TA feedback - SilviScan
Project title: Association of gene expression data with Scots pine wood properties
Applicant: Latvian State Forest research institute "Silava" (Forest Tree breeding/Genetic resource centre), Latvia
Duration: 25 February - 1 March 2013
Feedback: I learned how to use SilviScan and how to analyse the data obtained.
Data for about 50 trees of interest were obtained. The data included: wood density for individual ring values, and average wood density, and density of earlywood and latewood density; earlywood, transition wood and latewood were identified by looking at the wood density variation within each ring; annual ring properties; wood fibre properties; microfibril angle; wood stiffness.
The staff at Innventia were very supportive and nice. I had access to all Silviscan instrumentation and especially great thanks to Lars Olsson who is working with Silviscan and who had answers to all my questions.
The possibilities offered by Trees4future project are excellent for any Forest science related researcher or student who has ideas and scientific aims but lacks technical and financial support to carry out research. Thanks to the Trees4future project I was able to gain access to SilviScan instrumentation which is great for wood properties analysis. I had the chance not only to achieve my scientific goals and learn new methodology, but also possibility to meet great people working with SilviScan and establish contacts for some possible future collaboration.
Project title: Variation of xylem properties during gravitropic response of Norway spruce main stem with respect to spatial distribution of reaction wood
Applicant: Department of Forest Botany, Faculty of Forestry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
Duration: 10-14 June 2013
Feedback: During my stay at Innventia, I had a chance to become familiar with SilviScan and NIR instrumentation, and I worked on preparation of wood samples for Silviscan measurements. The samples came from my experiment on compression wood formation in inclined stems of Norway spruce trees. The trees were analysed on discs collected from different positions along the stem bend. Each stem disc was analysed along four radii and the radial variations were determined for (i) wood density (ii) microfibril angle (iii) cross-sectional tracheid (fibre) dimensions (radial and tangential width and cell wall thickness).
Such detailed studies of the material, originated from the experimentally induced compression wood formation, provided a unique opportunity for better understanding the physiological mechanism responsible for development of the compression wood and its impact upon wood quality. In addition, the wood samples have also been used for scanning for NIR (near infrared) spectra as an attempt to develop a rapid method for identification of compression wood.
The visit at Innventia gave me a great opportunity to learn new techniques for the wood structure analysis and meet highly professional and enthusiastic scientists.
Applicant: Forest Studies Centre, School of Agriculture, Technical University of Lisbon
Duration: September 2013 (5 days)
Feedback: I acquired knowledge of the SilviScan equipment and software through the measurement of all the important properties of eucalyptus wood, regarding its use as solid wood products. The data is being processed, and joint publications are scheduled.
I had all the support needed to set up the experiments and interpret the results, and all the technical support needed to make the best use possible of the installation. I recommend the application to T4F to all doctoral students or young researchers that aim to enrich their cv.
Project title: Xylem plasticity of forest trees as affected by climate change
Applicant: Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 5-9 May 2014
Feedback: Silviscan data were obtained successfully for four trees of each of seven species grown at the same plot. These data will together with supplementary data be used for studies of xylem plasticity as related to climate data.
