HEARTWOOD FLUORESCENCE OF TROPICAL SPECIES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze and classify the fluorescence emission from the heartwood of twenty-three tropical species. For the same, the device of ultraviolet light emission was used. Then, histological sections were made from two samples that showed fluorescence with strong and weak intensity, respectively, and another one sample that did not show fluorescence. They were observed in a fluorescence microscope under different emission filters for fluorescent light. Nine species belonging to three different families showed positive fluorescence of the heartwood. All samples from Anacardiaceae family were positive concerning the heartwood fluorescence. The results found in this work confirm the abundance of flavonoid extractives in species of Anacardiaceae. Thus, the heartwood fluorescence test proved to be an efficient method for contributes in the differentiation between species with or without heartwood fluorescent.