Bamboo Pleioblastus chino var. hisauchii characteristics before and after flowering

Abstract

Pleioblastus chino var. hisauchii is an important ornamental bamboo species that rarely flowers. Studies on the change in its material properties before and after flowering were lacking. In this paper, the anatomical, chemical, and mechanical properties of bamboo culms before and after flowering were studied by using the method of bio-wood science. The results showed that after flowering, the morphology and proportion of the fiber, vessel and vascular bundle decreased, and the openings of pits in the vessel wall were enlarged significantly; the contents of the main components such as extractives, lignin, holocellulose, cellulose and pentosan rose, while the ash content dropped. There was a decrease in density and modulus of rupture, and a pronounced fall in modulus of elasticity, while the microfibril angle and crystallinity increased. In general, the strength of bamboo flowering culms decreased and the ability to transport nutrients increased, which were closely related to the changes in internal structure and properties. This meant that bamboo flowering may be monitored or predicted by significant changes in some properties (such as pits and modulus of elasticity) and provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of flowering senescence and delayed flowering in bamboo.