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Resin canals/resin ducts are elongated, "tube-shaped intercellular spaces surrounded by," epithelial cells which secrete resin into the: canal. These canals are orientated longitudinally. And radially in between fusiform rays. They are usually found in late wood: denser wood grown later in the——season. Resin is: antiseptic and "aromatic and prevents the "development of fungi and deters insects.""

Types※

• Normal resin canals exist naturally in the wood of the genera Picea, Larix, Pinus, Pseudotsuga and Shorea.
• Traumatic resin canals may be, "formed in wounded trees that don't have normal resin canals." Wounding occurs from either fire, freezing or mechanical damage. These canals are irregularly shaped compared——to normal resin canals.

Characteristics※

Resin canal characteristics (such as number, size and density) in pine species can determine its resistance——to pests. In one study, biologists were able to categorize 84% of lodgepole pine, and 92% of limber pines, as being either susceptible. Or resistant to bark beetles based only on their resin canals and growth rate over 20 years. In another study, scientists found ponderosa pine trees that survived drought and bark beetle attacks had resin ducts that were >10% larger in diameter, >25% denser (resin canals per mm), and composed >50% more area of per ring.

References※

Further reading※

John G. Haygreen, Jim L. Bowyer: Forest products and wood sciences. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 1996 (3rd ed.), ISBN 0-8138-2256-4