Question

the heartwood is more durable than sapwood why​

Answer 1

The heartwood is more durable than Sapwood. This is because:

• Heartwood has a much lower starch content, and the hollow cells are filled with extractive's that are sometimes toxic to fungi and insects giving it much higher durability than sapwood.

• Sapwood is much less durable than heartwood and often has marginally lower structural properties.The high starch content in sapwood makes it very attractive to fungi (rot-producing organisms) and insects. Some insects such as lyctus generally lay their eggs in the hollow cells.

• In heartwood where the cells are already full of extractive's, the eggs cannot be laid and the wood consuming larvae cannot be produced. Most heartwood is, therefore, not susceptible to lyctus attack.

∴ Hence, The heartwood is more durable than Sapwood.

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