Bordered Pits in Pine (IMAGE)

Virginia Tech

Bordered Pits in Pine

Caption

Three bordered pits are revealed in this 3-D microscopic cross-section of pine wood, with cellulose appearing in green and pectin in red. The image was taken with a specialized microscope that shows a never-before observed distribution of pectin in ring-like structures at the nanolevel, which helps explain how trees control sap flow and prevent air intrusion in their stems.

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Virginia Tech

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