earticle

영어

The anatomical properties of unproductive oil palm stems (OPS) and their correlation with density were studied from the core to the bark at the bottom, middle, and top sections for effective utilization. Observations of anatomical features were performed with optical and scanning electron microscopy, while density measurements were conducted with an electronic densimeter (MH-330A; Omena, China). The number of vascular bundles (VBN) increased from core to bark and decreased from top to bottom. The fiber bundle area (FBA) increased from core to bark and from top to bottom. Fiber length (FL), width (FW), and wall thickness (FWT) decreased from the bottom to the top, whereas the fiber lumen diameter (FLD) increased. FL across all sections showed a decreasing trend from core to bark. Radial variations in FW, FLD, and FWT differed across sections. The fiber derivative values in the inner part of the middle section were comparable to those in the top section, predominantly showing third-grade pulp quality. In contrast, the bottom section exhibited the characteristics similar to the outer part of the middle section, where fibers were largely classified as fourth-grade pulp. Density was found to have a positive correlation with VBN, while FBA, FL, and FW exhibited a negative, though statistically insignificant, relationship with oven-dry density. No correlation was observed between FWT, FLD, and OPS density.To conclude, distinct variations in quantitative anatomical characteristics were observed within the OPS, suggesting that fiber properties can serve as indicators of stem quality. In general, fiber quality declined from the top to the bottom sections and from the core outward.