%0 Research article
%T Tracheid cross-sectional dimensions in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) – distributions and comparison with Norway spruce (Picea abies)
%A Havimo, Mikko
%A Rikala, Juha
%A Sirviö, Jari
%A Sipi, Marketta
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.188
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/188
%X Cell wall thickness and tracheid radial and tangential diameter are  important characteristics in papermaking. These fibre cross-sectional  dimensions affect paper properties such as light scattering, and tear  and tensile indexes. In the authors’ previous article, the mean values  and distributions of tracheid cross-sectional dimensions were obtained  for Norway spruce (Picea abies). This article characterises the  cross-sectional tracheid properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)  using exactly the same methodology as in the previous study on Norway  spruce, which enables the comparison between the tree species. The  distributions for Scots pine cell wall thickness and tracheid radial  diameter were similar: a narrow peak due to earlywood tracheids, and a  wide peak due to latewood tracheids. The tangential diameter  distributions for Scots pine were very similar in both earlywood and  latewood, having one wide peak. Also, the distributions in whole stem,  top pulpwood and sawmill chip assortments were quite similar. The  differences between Scots pine and Norway spruce tracheid  cross-sectional dimensions were fairly marginal. This is at least the  case when comparing large tracheid populations, in which differences  tend to even out. The situation may be different on a more detailed  level of observation, for example, when individual annual rings in the  different tree species are compared.