In the frame of research activities on the Applause project, intensive investigation of the chemical properties of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) is under progress also at the Department of wood science and technology (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty).

In the past project period the sample material of different IAPS tree and shrub species were taken.

However, stem tissues of boxelder maple (Acer negundo), horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), and robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) as well as staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Thunberg's barberry (Berberis thunbergii), summer lilac (Buddleja davidii), red osier (Cornus sericea), amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), and common laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) were sampled. A root sample of so called tree-of-haven (Ailanthus altissima) was also taken.

All the collected material was sawn to smaller pieces at workroom of Department of wood science and technology (BF-OL), i.e., different categories of wood tissue were isolated. All the material was adequately disintegrated on a cutting laboratory mill.

Wood meals are being properly stored until further analysis. However, in the upcoming project period all the wood samples of IAPS are going to be extracted and chemically investigated in the Laboratory of Chair of the Chemistry of Wood and Other Lignocellulosic Materials.

Amounts and contents of both structural and non-structural, i.e., extractable, components of wood will be measured.

Boxelder maple (Acer negundo); sampling the stem discs and isolation of different types of wood tissues

Isolated samples of wood and bark of IAPS.

Sample discs of shrubs and the root of Ailanthus altissima.

Disintegration of wood samples; wood of horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) before and after grinding.

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Author: Viljem Vek, Assist. Prof., Chair of the chemistry of wood and other lignocellulosic materials, Department of wood science and technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana