Phenolation to Improve Hardwood Kraft Lignin for Wood Adhesive Application.

Lignins, naturally occurring aromatic polymers with phenylpropane units, are promising bio-based alternatives for petroleum-based products. Resole-type phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesive is commonly used in wood composites requiring durability and weather-proofness. However, PF adhesive is a petroleum-based product.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle digestive symbiosis with potential plant cell wall degrading microbes.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB, Oryctes rhinoceros) is an invasive palm pest whose larvae eat wood, yet lack the necessary digestive enzymes. This study confirmed endogenous CRB cellulase is inactive, suggesting microbial fermentation. The inner lining of the CRB hindgut has tree-like structures covered with a conspicuous biofilm.

Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds and Protein Expressions of and var. Leaves under Different Light Intensities and Temperatures.

Both and var. are representative cypresses of high economic value in Taiwan, the southernmost subtropical region where cypresses are found. Both species show differences of their habitats.

Differential Gene Profiling of the Heartwood Formation Process in Hayata Xylem Tissues.

Taiwania () is an important tree species in Taiwan because of the excellent properties of its wood and fascinating color qualities of its heartwood (HW), as well as the bioactive compounds therein. However, limited information is available as to the HW formation of this species. The objective of this research is to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the HW formation process from specific Taiwania xylem tissues, and to obtain genes that might be closely associated with this process.

Seasonal variations in emission rates and composition of terpenoids emitted from Chamaecyparis formosensis (Cupressaceae) of different ages.

Chamaecyparis formosensis (Cupressaceae) is among the most precious endemic conifers in Taiwan. Field study was conducted on seasonal variations in emission rates and compositions of terpenoids from this tree species of two different ages. A total of 21 terpenoids were detected, of which there were 13 monoterpenoids (MTs), 4 sesquiterpenoids (STs), and 4 diterpenoids (DTs).

Temperature-induced embryonic diapause in blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis) correlates with decreased mitochondrial-respiratory network and increased stress-response network.

Blue-breasted quail has been recognized as a potential model animal. The aim of this study is to investigate the low-temperature-induced embryonic diapause in blue-breasted quail. To this end, the early embryonic staging in blue-breasted quail was briefly described and various incubation temperatures were tested.

Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity and Thermostability of Cinnamaldehyde-Chemotype Leaf Oil of Microencapsulated with β-Cyclodextrin.

The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and thermostability of leaf oil microencapsulated with β-cyclodextrin were evaluated in this study. The yield of leaf oil microcapsules was 86.3% using the optimal reaction conditions at the leaf oil to β-cyclodextrin ratio of 15:85 and ethanol to water ratio ranging from 1:3 to 1:5.

Improving wood properties for wood utilization through multi-omics integration in lignin biosynthesis.

A multi-omics quantitative integrative analysis of lignin biosynthesis can advance the strategic engineering of wood for timber, pulp, and biofuels. Lignin is polymerized from three monomers (monolignols) produced by a grid-like pathway. The pathway in wood formation of Populus trichocarpa has at least 21 genes, encoding enzymes that mediate 37 reactions on 24 metabolites, leading to lignin and affecting wood properties.

Proteomics investigation reveals cell death-associated proteins of basidiomycete fungus Trametes versicolor treated with Ferruginol.

Ferruginol has antifungal activity against wood-rot fungi (basidiomycetes). However, specific research on the antifungal mechanisms of ferruginol is scarce. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorescent image analysis were employed to evaluate the differential protein expression of wood-rot fungus Trametes versicolor treated with or without ferruginol.

Populus trichocarpa.

Populus trichocarpa Nisqually-1 is a clone of black cottonwood that is widely used as a model woody plant. It was the first woody plant to have a full genome sequence and remains today as the model for growth, metabolism, development, and adaptation for all woody dicotyledonous plants. It is one of the best-annotated plant genomes available.

Comparison of dilute acid and sulfite pretreatments on Acacia confusa for biofuel application and the influence of its extractives.

Chemical components of lignocellulosic biomass may impede biofuel processing efficiency. To understand whether the heartwood of Acacia confusa is suitable for biofuel application, extractive-free heartwood of A. confusa was subjected to dilute acid (DA) or sulfite pretreatments.

A potential low-coumarin cinnamon substitute: Cinnamomum osmophloeum leaves.

The essential oils from leaves of Taiwan's indigenous cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. cinnamaldehyde) have similar constituents as compared to that from commercial bark cinnamons. This indigenous cinnamon has been proven to have excellent bioactivities.

Ptr-miR397a is a negative regulator of laccase genes affecting lignin content in Populus trichocarpa.

Laccases, as early as 1959, were proposed to catalyze the oxidative polymerization of monolignols. Genetic evidence in support of this hypothesis has been elusive due to functional redundancy of laccase genes. An Arabidopsis double mutant demonstrated the involvement of laccases in lignin biosynthesis.

Potential source of S-(+)-linalool from Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf: essential oil profile and enantiomeric purity.

Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool is one of the chemotypes of the indigenous cinnamon in Taiwan. In this study, hydrodistillation was used for extracting the essential oils (EOs) of C.

Characterizing the conservation effect of clear coatings on photodegradation of wood.

Photodiscoloration of clear-coated wood may be caused by the yellowing of both clear coating film and underlying wood, or either of them. Wood specimens covered with two types of free polyurethane films with/without light stabilizer were used to simulate the photodiscoloration of clear-coated wood. Percent UV transmission of aromatic polyurethane (PU) films decreased after irradiation, whereas aliphatic polyurethane (PUA) films significantly increased with irradiation time resulting in further photoyellowing of wood beneath the PUA film.

Utilization of polar metabolite profiling in the comparison of juvenile wood and compression wood in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda).

Juvenile wood (JW) of conifers is often associated with compression wood (CW), with which it is sometimes believed to be identical. To determine whether JW and CW can be distinguished metabolically, we compared gas chromatographic profiles of 25 polar metabolites from rooted cuttings of a single loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) clone raised in controlled environment chambers and subject to three treatments: (1) grown erect with minimal wind sway (control); (2) swayed by wind from oscillating fans; and (3) with 30-cm growth increments successively bent at an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical.

Rapid screening of wood chemical component variations using transmittance near-infrared spectroscopy.

A rapid transmittance near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method was developed to predict the variation in chemical composition of solid wood. The effect of sample preparation, sample quantity (single versus stacked multiple wood wafers), and NIR acquisition time on the quantification of alpha-cellulose and lignin content was investigated. Strong correlations were obtained between laboratory wet chemistry values and the NIR-predicted values.

Rapid prediction of solid wood lignin content using transmittance near-infrared spectroscopy.

A rapid transmittance near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic method has been developed to characterize the lignin content of solid wood. Using simple, multiple regression, and partial least-squares statistical analysis the lignin contents of wood wafers, taken from increment cores, and synthetic wood, prepared by blending milled wood lignin and holocellulose, were compared and quantified. Strong correlations were obtained between the predicted NIR results and those obtained from traditional chemical methods.