Effect of Bordered Pit Torus Position on Permeability in Chinese Yezo Spruce

The effect of different bordered pit torus positions on wood permeability was studied by air-drying and ethanol-exchange drying for green wood and by soaking in water, then followed by ethanol-exchange drying for air-dried wood of Chinese yezo spruce ( Picea jezoensis var. komarovii ). The results showed that different treatments caused different pit torus positions and different wood permeability. The air-drying treatment resulted in pit torus aspiration and low permeability for sapwood. The ethanol-exchange drying treatment left the pit torus in an unaspirated position and resulted in high permeability for sapwood. Soaking in water followed by ethanol-exchange drying caused deaspiration of a part of pit torus and increased permeability for both sapwood and heartwood.