Stomatal opening provides access to inner leaf tissues for many plant pathogens, so narrowing stomatal apertures may be advantageous for plant defense. We investigated how guard cells respond to elicitors that can be generated from cell walls of plants or pathogens during pathogen infection. The effect of oligogalacturonic acid (OGA), a degradation product of the plant cell wall, and chitosan (␤-1,4-linked glucosamine), a component of the fungal cell wall, on stomatal movements were examined in leaf epidermis of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and Commelina communis L. These elicitors reduced the size of the stomatal aperture. OGA not only inhibited light-induced stomatal opening, but also accelerated stomatal closing in both species; chitosan inhibited light-induced stomatal opening in tomato epidermis. The effects of OGA and chitosan were suppressed when EGTA, catalase, or ascorbic acid was present in the medium, suggesting that Ca 2؉ and H 2 O 2 mediate the elicitor-induced decrease of stomatal apertures. We show that the H 2 O 2 that is involved in this process is produced by guard cells in response to elicitors. Our results suggest that guard cells infected by pathogens may close their stomata via a pathway involving H 2 O 2 production, thus interfering with the continuous invasion of pathogens through the stomatal pores.

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A total of 30 Caesalpinia echinata (pernambuco) sticks were ranked based on their suitability for making high quality bows and were assigned to one of the three following categories: 0=very poor to poor, 1=good to very good, and 2=excellent. From the end of each stick a sample was cut for wood property and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic analysis. Wood properties measured included air-dry density, extractives content, microfibril angle, stiffness and wood color. NIR spectra were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and on the PC scores. Poor quality samples were discriminated from those of good to very good and excellent quality; however, samples from the two higher quality groups were mixed. Based on relationships observed between PC scores and wood properties, we suggest that, of the measured properties, density and stiffness were the most important in sample discrimination based on quality. Samples ranked in the excellent category had high average density (1119 kg m-3) and stiffness (25.2 GPa) and relatively low extractives content (21.2%) compared to samples in the very poor to poor category (density= 938 kg m-3, stiffness=18.9 GPa and extractives content=24.9%).

The effect of wood species on the mechanical and thermal properties of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) was explored. Various wood species, including cherry, sweet gum, hickory, yellow poplar, Osage orange, walnut, eastern red cedar, pine, maple, and red oak, were compounded with virgin isotactic polypropylene in a 50 : 50 weight ratio and injection-molded. The tensile strength of WPCs made with cedar and hickory was higher than that of WPCs made with maple, oak, and Osage orange. The tensile modulus of WPCs made with gum and walnut was higher than that of oak WPCs. The tan d peak temperatures and peak values from dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that pine and hickory WPCs had higher amorphous or void contents than walnut and cherry WPCs. The induction time during isothermal crystallization suggested that red cedar, cherry, and gum WPCs had higher nucleation density than walnut, pine, and oak WPCs. Dynamic mechanical properties of the WPCs appeared to be related to the crystallization behavior of the wood flour, which depends on the surface roughness. Although there were statistically significant differences in mechanical properties among the species, the differences were small, implying that wood flours from many species can be used successfully as raw materials for WPCs.

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Mass timber structures have the potential to change wooden construction on a global scale. Numerous mass timber high-rise buildings are in planning, under development or already built and their performance will alter how architects and engineers view wood as a material. To date, the discussion of material durability and biodegradation in these structures has been limited. While all materials can be degraded by wetting, the potential for biodegradation of wood in a mass timber building requires special consideration. Identifying and eliminating the conditions that might lead to this degradation will be critical for ensuring proper performance of wood in these structures. This article reviews and contrasts potential sources of biodegradation that exist for traditional wood construction with those in mass timber construction and identifies methods for limiting the degradation risk. Finally, future research needs are outlined.