Anatomical Characteristics of Korean Phyllostachys pubescens by Age

Bamboo is one of the major biomass resources that have many advantages such as fast growing, easy cultivation, short rotation, and a relatively lower price. In this study, the anatomical characteristics of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) by age from one-year-old to five-year-old were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Also, the crystalline properties such as relative crystallinity and crystallite width were investigated by an X-ray diffraction method. In one-year-old bamboo xylem, a few vascular bundles showed missing bundle sheath in near the intercellular space. Moreover, one-year-old bamboo had the shortest fiber length and the smallest values in vessel diameter, width of vascular bundle, and thickness of inner layer. One-year-old bamboo also showed the smallest values in the crystallinity and crystallite width. Near epidermis samples had longer fiber length and greater vascular bundle spacing than near pith samples. Relative crystallinity and crystallite width near the epidermis were also higher than near the pith. This study revealed significant differences in qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics between one-year-old and two-year- or more old Moso bamboos. It is concluded that the structural differences by bamboo age can be used to differentiate the characteristics of juvenile and mature bamboo.