Resin canal
Elongated, tube-shaped intercellular spaces surrounded
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Resin canals or resin ducts are fusiform intercellular spaces surrounded by epithelial cells which secrete resin. Canals are lined with 6–8 thin-walled cells and surrounded by layers of parenchyma cells. This tissue spreads out to the sides like wings and merges with the canal.[1]
_Resin_Canal.jpg)
A three dimensional lattice of canals runs both axially through the wood and radially within medullary rays. Axial canals (also called longitudinal canals) are usually found in late wood, or denser wood grown later in the season.[2]
Resin is both antiseptic and aromatic and prevents the development of fungi and deters insects.
Types
Characteristics
Resin canal characteristics (such as number, size and density) in pine species can determine its resistance to pests. In one study, biologists were able to categorize 84% of lodgepole pine, and 92% of limber pines, as being either susceptible or resistant to bark beetles based only on their resin canals and growth rate over 20 years.[4] In another study, scientists found ponderosa pine trees that survived drought and bark beetle attacks had resin ducts that were >10% larger in diameter, >25% denser (resin canals per mm2), and composed >50% more area of per ring.[5]
