Question

Sapwood is
A) Outer functional part of secondary xylem
B) Inner non-functional part of secondary xylem
C) Outer as well as the inner part of secondary xylem
D) None of the above

Answer 1

The sapwood is the living part present on the tree. It is the outermost part that consists of living cells. It is used in the transportation of sap and nutrients to the tree. The wood found in the trees is initially the sapwood which grows to form the heartwood.

Complete answer:
The sapwood is the living and functional part of the wood. It is the outermost layer that is present after the bark of the tree. It is usually light in color and is made up of secondary xylem. The sapwood is helpful in the transportation of the water and sap from the roots to the other parts of the tree.

The cells of the sapwood are usually filled with water and do not have any deposit on their cells present in the heartwood. The sapwood which dies is pushed towards the heartwood. The dead sapwood may also be functional for the transportation activity. The sapwood is usually regarded as the new wood and is not used for any commercial purposes.

The heartwood is the only wood that is used for the commercial purposes like making the furniture. The sapwood is not used for such things because of the presence of high moisture content in it. Which tends to get lost when the wood is exposed to the air.

Sapwood when exposed to air can get infected with the fungal and bacterial attack and growth. This may cause the wood to rot easily. So, to prevent such damages the heartwood is used which doesn’t have any moisture content present on it.

So, the correct answer is option ‘A’ .ie, ‘outer functional part of secondary xylem’.

Note: The sapwood is composed of living cells that help in the transportation of the water and sap from the roots to the crown part of the tree. The sapwood when becomes dead and starts getting a deposit then it merges with the heartwood and remains functional.