Their findings were published in the journal New Phytologist.
Jan Łyczakowski from the Department of Plant Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, southern Poland, and Raymond Wightman from the Sainsbury Laboratory at Cambridge used a cryo-electron microscope to image the ultrastructure of the secondary cell walls in the wood of these trees.
Their research examined 33 different species, focusing on the macrofibrils—fibrous structures within the wood measuring 10-40 nanometers in diameter.
According to Łyczakowski, the lead author of the study, the macrofibrils in tulip trees, specifically Liriodendron tulipifera and Liriodendron chinense, differed from those in other wood species.
"Interestingly, tulip trees evolved 30-50 million years ago as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were falling," he explained. "We believe their wood structure may have adapted to sequester carbon dioxide more efficiently during this period of change."
The research highlights the importance of understanding these structures for potential carbon capture. Both species of tulip tree have shown remarkable ability to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, a feature the scientists think is linked to their unique wood composition.
This international collaboration also underscored the significant role botanical gardens play in scientific research.
Wightman said that, in addition to the tulip tree, the study explored other evolutionary processes in wood structure, revealing surprising similarities between the ancient flowering plant Amborella trichopoda and coniferous plants such as pines and firs.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP