Luís Alberto Bucci’s scientific contributions

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of altitude on the anatomical characteristics of Ocotea indecora wood under various relief conditions in Cunha, São Paulo. Non-destructive stem samples of Ocotea indecora were collected at three altitudes within the Cunha Nucleus of the Serra do Mar State Park (1300, 1200, and 1000 m). Five non-destructive samples were taken at each altitude around the diameter at breast height (DBH) of selected trees. Trees above 1250 m were situated in plateau areas, while the remaining sampled trees were situated in escarpment areas with slopes ranging from 30 to 90%. The geolocation of sampled trees was performed using global positioning system equipment. The samples were processed following standard wood anatomy techniques. Significant differences were observed, but only in the fiber diameter of samples collected between 1000 m and 1300 m. At 1300m, fiber diameter showed the highest values, while the lowest fiber diameter was found in trees sampled at 1000 m. According to cluster dendrogram analysis, considering all analyzed variables, altitudes of 1200 m and 1300 m were grouped together, differing from the altitude of 1000m, which formed a separate cluster. Generally, anatomical elements correlate differently among themselves depending on the altitude gradient.

This study aimed to characterize the properties of wood from Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus caribaea var bahamensis, in 7-year-old individuals, in the municipality of Batatais, State of São Paulo, Brazil. For this, twelve trees of each species/variety were felled, and a 1 m long log was removed from the base of each tree. Samples were taken from the obtained logs to evaluate the physical-mechanical properties of the wood. It was verified that the woods of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis do not differ significantly from each other for: Apparent density, basic density, compression parallel to the grain, shear parallel to grain, modulus of elasticity, volumetric shrinkage, anisotropy coefficient, radial shrinkage, and tangential shrinkage. The wood of the species/variety Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis showed a significantly higher modulus of rupture than the variety Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis. Regarding the use of wood from these species/variety, at a younger age, both showed potential use for different purposes. Since this initial assessment can be used as an indication of pre-selection of wood for the various segments of the timber industry, mainly for uses that do not have many restrictions in structural applications and dimensional variation.

Resin tapping is an activity designed to extract resin from trees, especially species of the genus Pinus. Current systems of tapping and collecting resin are well known, but further study is needed to make these systems more efficient and profitable for producers. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of five resin tapping systems during five different collection periods on the production and growth of resin trees for a population of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii planted in Itapetininga, SP. Resining affects tree growth, especially in diameter. Results showed that system 4, with eight panels on each plant and four on each side, presented the highest average production of resin per tree, while system 1, with 2 panels on each plant and 1 on each side, presented the lowest average resin production per tree. It was concluded that resin production is dependent on the system employed, time of collection, and their interactions.

Resin tapping is an activity that aims to extract resin from trees, and thus use this product industrially. The species most used for resin tapping in Brazil is Pinus elliottii var, elliottii. The extracted resin is basically composed of rosin and turpentine, which are used by the chemical industry. Although the main resin processes currently used are well known, new systems must be tested, such as the closed system and new compositions of stimulating pastes. These new processes and the new compositions of stimulating pastes can make the resin tapping even more efficient and profitable. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the effect on resin production with different compositions of stimulant pastes in resin extraction, in a closed "borehole" resin system, at different collection times, in trees from a population of 10-year-old Pinus elliottii var. elliottii planted in Itapetininga, São Paulo. According to results, the effect of stimulating paste 4 (30% jasmonate, 4% naturoil and water) and paste 6 (30% jasmonate, 4% adhesive spreader and water) was evident in the highest production average resin per tree. Resin tapping in a closed process can be a good alternative for producers to better control the resin production system. The development of the chemical industry that uses products derived from resin and the growth of different markets, with considerable social, economic and environmental impacts, depends on future research and generation of technology for the production of resin and its derivatives.

Resin tapping is an activity designed to extract resin from trees, especially species of the genus Pinus. Current systems of tapping and collecting resin are well known, but further study is needed to make these systems more efficient and profitable for producers. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of five resin tapping systems during five different collection periods on the production and growth of resin trees for a population of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii planted in Itapetininga, SP. Resining affects tree growth, especially in diameter. Results showed that system 4, with eight panels on each plant and four on each side, presented the highest average production of resin per tree, while system 1, with 2 panels on each plant and 1 on each side, presented the lowest average resin production per tree. It was concluded that resin production is dependent on the system employed, time of collection, and their interactions.

Carbon allocation is the Achilles' heel of forest models, due to the difficulty to predict responses induced by environmental changes. Structural-functional models involve the plant's strategy to split its resources between organs and functions. An important functional characteristic is xylem architecture, which is connected to water use strategy and plant productivity besides one of the most important C-sink (that absorbs carbon). Our goal is to use the information present in the tree rings of Schizolobium parahyba, to expand the possibilities of teleonomic approaches in structural-functional models of tree species. In a comparative xylem rings analyses, we established relationships among specific gravity, vessel traits as hydraulic conductivity potential, double wall thickness, and autofluorescence intensity of lignin. The analyses showed that growth ring characteristics seem to have been modulated not only by water availability of the period of wood formation but also by the water availability of previous years. This relationship would be occurring due to the greater capacity of accumulation of reserve carbohydrates in years whose climatic conditions were favourable. This pattern of behaviour entails the formation of two distinct growth ring patterns, one with high and the other with low structural cost. This case study shows that the species can change future behaviour in xylogenesis to improve fitness based on past and current conditions. Our study may help to extend the possibilities of teleonomic approaches in structural-functional models of tree species, which will assist in a greater understanding of how trees balance their carbon allocation in wood according to changes in the environment.

Since trees are continually at risk of damage from animals and adverse environmental conditions, their survival depends on wound healing capacity. Common physiological responses to injury are cell proliferation, regeneration of the vascular tissue and the formation of compounds to protect cells near the wound. The wood anatomy is important for understanding the mechanisms of wound healing, and hence tree survival. We studied twelve tropical tree species to understand how some wood characteristics contribute to the wound healing process. We made the quantitative analysis of wood characteristics and evaluated the rate of wound healing two years after the collection of samples. Species with a large amount of axial parenchyma, presented the highest wound healing rate, proving that axial parenchyma cell supply material for greater cell proliferation, acting to close the wound much faster. Species that have axial parenchyma and produce a network between vessels and rays through living tissue, recover and provide passage of hormones that stimulate cell division of tissue near the wound, promoting growth of callus tissue all around the wound area, accelerating wound closure. On the other hand, the absence of axial parenchyma hinders such recovery by disabling affected regions; both above and below the injury, from producing sufficient wound healing tissue. The presence of longer fibers is an indicative of a larger amount of gibberellin that is involved in cell division during wound healing; therefore, species with longer fibers had faster wound healing.

Carbon sequestration involves the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, aiming to reduce the greenhouse effect. Wood basic density is a direct part of this process. We selected five trees in each of the following species to determine wood basic density and quantify carbon, both sequestered and fixed, for 10 years: Alchornea sidifolia, Ceiba speciosa, Gallesia integrifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Inga marginata, Maclura tinctoria, and Prunus cerasoides. The study was conducted in the Commemorative Arboretum of 500 Years of Brazil in Alberto Löfgren State Park, São Paulo. Using maximum moisture content capture of CO, we studied variations of wood density and CO2, both fixed and sequestered, by an individual tree in the same species and between species. Values of fixed and sequestered CO2 showed variations among species with a high dependence on wood density such that trees with higher amounts of CO2, both fixed and abducted, were also trees that showed the highest increment both in height and diameter (DBH). Based on these metrics, G. ulmifolia, I. marginata, M. tinctoria, and P. cerasoides showed the most potential to sequester carbon. Our calculations showed that planting these four species would result in the sequestration of around 30 tons of carbon per hectare.

No final da década de 90, o Instituto de Botânica (IBt) desenvolveu estudos em 98 áreas reflorestadas com mais de 10 anos, entre elas áreas de mata ciliar pertencentes a International Paper (IPaper). Estes estudos revelaram que as áreas se encontravam em declínio ou totalmente degradadas, estando os insucessos relacionados à baixa diversidade de espécies utilizadas; à falta de manutenção nos primeiros anos de plantio; à falta de correção da fertilidade do solo; ao uso de espécies inadequadas, entre outros fatores, evidenciando a necessidade de estabelecimento de normas/procedimentos orientativos para a restauração florestal, no estado de São Paulo, principal objetivo deste trabalho. Hoje, as primeiras áreas reflorestadas com espécies arbóreas nativas pela IPaper estão com mais de 20 anos de idade, tendo sido plantadas aproximadamente 35 espécies de diferentes classes sucessionais. Estas áreas fizeram parte do estudo realizado pelo IBt e foi observada a necessidade de enriquecimento destes reflorestamentos com outras espécies arbóreas nativas, aumentando a diversidade florística. Como consequência, a recomposição da mata ciliar do rio Mogi-Guaçu, revegetada por meio de três formas de enriquecimento, deu início à parceria IBt-IPaper. Em 2002, foram reflorestados 439 ha que, somados aos remanescentes florestais, totalizaram 536 ha de áreas em processo de restauração, onde foram desenvolvidos trabalhos de avaliação e monitoramento de áreas em processo de restauração induzida, para indicar o potencial de comunidades implantadas de alcançar a sustentabilidade e o restabelecimento das relações ecológicas existentes nas florestas. Como resultado, foram publicados 31 artigos científicos, sendo 51,65% vegetação, 12,89% de fauna, 6,44% solos, 12,89% indicadores, 6,44% de técnicas de restauração e 9,69% outros. Este artigo revela a RPPN Parque Florestal São Marcelo em Mogi-Guaçu SP, como a Unidade de Conservação manejada com técnicas de restauração ecológica, mais documentada do Brasil no Bioma da Mata Atlântica.