Soft Rot Cavity Widening: A Kinetic Approach

Studies on the micromorphology of diamond-shaped and cylindrical soft rot cavities with conical ends formed in the S2 layer of wood cell walls are briefly outlined. A mathematical model is constructed to describe the cavity widening process, particularly changes in the surface area of a hypothetical cavity during enlargement. On comparison with observed data it is concluded that the rate of cavity widening is determined by the chemical composition of the S2 layer of the secondary wood cell wall. Enzyme activity on the cone faces of cavities is negligible; cavity elaboration occurs at the cylindrical surface.