Composición química del xilema de Ficus insipida Willd. (Moraceae)

The aim of this study was to determine the radial variability of chemical compounds in the xylem of higueron (Ficus insipida Willd.) from the Guayana region, Venezuela. The evaluation was carried out using a sample of 3 trees; the wood samples were taken at 1.30 meters above ground level. The radial evaluation was performed on 3 equidistant points in a pith-bark radial direction (0, 50, 90%). The determination of chemical components was performed according to TAPPI test methods. Radial variation in the proportion of all the chemical components was observed, lignin showed an average of 28.28% and 48.86% cellulose, both components of the cell wall showed an increase in the direction radial pith-bark 12% and 6% respectively. By the contrary, hemicelluloses showed a decrease of linear nature with an average of 22.86%. Inorganic components were 2.49%. The total extractives were 7.49% from dry weight in wood. Soluble compounds in alcohol-benzene mixture, alcohol and hot water were 1.43%, 1.94% and 5.54% of wood dry weight, respectively. An increase of inorganic compounds and a slight decrease in total organic influenced by the fraction of soluble in hot water, was evidenced.