Qualitative and quantitative microstructural investigation of Moringa oleifera wood through X-ray computed tomography

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Abstract

Recent advances in high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) enable comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of wood microstructure. This study combines micro-CT imaging with advanced segmentation to characterize Moringa oleifera L. stem anatomy. Qualitative analysis revealed distinct tissue boundaries, with grayscale images differentiating xylem vessels (bright) from parenchyma (dark) based on density. Reconstructed 3D volumes showed alternating parenchyma-fiber bands, while watershed segmentation delineated pores and Kuwahara filtering preserved structural details. Quantitative results demonstrated spatial heterogeneity: total porosity measured 22.3 ± 2.9 % versus 2.4 ± 1.9 % to 3.7 ± 0.2 % in ROIs. Pore density varied inversely (0.7 ± 0.3 to 1.4 ± 1.0 μm −3 ), with average pore sizes ranging 0.3 ± 0.6 to 1.9 ± 0.2 μm 2 . Strong correlations existed between porosity and pore diameter ( r = 0.99) or % area ( r = 0.95), showing morphology governs void fraction. Parameters exhibited symmetric distributions (skewness ≈ 0) with light tails (kurtosis < 3). CT resolved wall thickness variations (0–15 mm), linking microstructure to mechanical properties. The non-destructive approach provides unprecedented 3D quantification of Moringa wood’s structural adaptations, supporting applications in biomaterials and fluid transport systems.

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