Description of an Anatomical Structure and Changes of Microstructure through the Grave Yard Test on Treated and Untreated Three-Year-Old Gigantochloa scortechinii via Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The microstructures of selected tropical bamboo species were investigated. Harvested three-year-old Gigantochloa scortechinii segregated into different locations and positions. Bamboo samples were treated using copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA), ammonia-copper-quaternary (ACQ), and a borax-boric-acid (BBA) through the vacuum pressure, sap displacement, and soaking technique. The samples then undergo using Electron Microscopy (EM), especially Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) as an efficient tools for microstructure viewing. The coating process and spurr resin techniques followed for SEM and TEM, respectively. The study focused on the changes of vascular bundles, fibers, and parenchyma cells located at the internodes and nodes; also at the outer, middle, and inner sections of natural and preservatives treated bamboos. Found that the bamboo species exhibit similarity in their characteristics but the anatomical features and microstructure were different. This paper also describes the effects of treated and untreated samples through the ground contact test using SEM and TEM micrographs.