Position-dependent variations in cell wall orientation of hardwood branches: Evidence from wide-angle X-ray diffraction

Nenning, Tobias; Hansmann, Christian; Todt, Juraj; Tockner, Andreas; Konnerth, Johannes; Keckes, Jozef; Gindl-Altmutter, Wolfgang; Pramreiter, Maximilian; Grabner, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101347

Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-04608

Position-dependent variations in cell wall orientation of hardwood branches: Evidence from wide-angle X-ray diffraction

Nenning, T. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Todt, J.Extern* ; Keckes, J.Extern* ; Konnerth, J. ; Gindl-Altmutter, W. ; Grabner, M. ; Tockner, A. ; Hansmann, C. ; Pramreiter, M.

2025
Elsevier Amsterdam

Next materials 9, 101347 (2025) [10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101347]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101347 doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-04608

Abstract: The secondary cell wall is a highly optimised structure and large repository of carbon, making wood an efficienttool for carbon sequestration in long-lasting materials. However, the prospective material use of branch wood isnot realised, as natural variability is poorly understood. To address this, we analysed the structural orientation ofthe secondary cell wall in radial wood strips from branches and stem wood of beech, oak and poplar using X-raydiffraction. Our position-resolved results revealed that the flat branches of beech and oak exhibited greaterasymmetry, with the highest microfibril orientation on the upper side, associated with the architectural treedesign. Steep branches and poplar samples showed a more uniform, stem-like structure. Herman’s orientationfactor showed a pith-to-bark trend with the lowest orientation in the pith region, but was interrupted by tensionwood regions reaching local extremes, identified as interesting tissue for future material designs due to high cellwall quantity and orientation. Our study advances the understanding of the relationship between cell wallorientation and tree architecture, which can now be determined using non-invasive laser scanning, thus enablingthe search for materials that meet certain quality criteria and help to foster the new material use of branch wood.

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