_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ a Centre of Excellence in Wood Engineered Products (CeWEP), 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. b University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. c University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia. *Corresponding author: E-mail: drrazakw5181@uts.edu.my; Chapter 4 Print ISBN: 978-93-5547-628-9, eBook ISBN: 978-93-5547-629-6 Microstructure Properties of Decay in Chemically Treated Tropical Bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) via Electron Microscopy Razak Wahab a,b* , Mohamad Saiful Sulaiman a,b , Sofiyah Mohd Razali a , Nasihah Mokhtar a,b , Taharah Edin a,b and Ros Syazmini Mohd Ghani a,c DOI: 10.9734/bpi/rdst/v3/2082B ABSTRACT This chapter focused on the anatomical structures and microstructures of a three (3) year-old tropical bamboo species Gigantochloa scortechinii. The bamboo culms were randomly selected and felled from forest bamboo stands managed by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), and all culms' age was tagged correctly. The bamboo culms were cut at about 30 cm above ground level. All culms possessed diameters in the ranges of 10 to 12 cm at DBH. An end-coating paint was applied to the cut surface before being transported to the workshop and subsequent laboratories. Electron microscopy with high magnification was used to investigate the effectiveness of the selected chemicals and their application techniques in treating the bamboo culms. The scanning electron microscope was intensively used at the tissue cells level and the transmission electron microscope at the cell walls level. The study focused on tissue such as the vascular bundles, fibers, parenchyma, and areas in the middle lamella located at the middle cross sections at the bottom, middle and top of the bamboo culms at the internodes and nodes of the chemically treated bamboo. The comparison was made to the untreated bamboo culms. The study found that while the qualities of bamboo culms were consistent as they get taller, their anatomical aspects and microstructure alter. The researchers also looked at the differences between SEM and TEM micrographs. Keywords: Gigantochloa scortechnii; microstructures decayed; chemical treatment; scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy. 1. INTRODUCTION The world wood-based industry currently depends extensively on procuring raw material from the natural forest. Timbers from the fast-growing species planted in many temperate and tropical regions could not supply the materials insufficient [1]. These timber species require between 12-20 years to reach maturity before being considered for utilization. Non-timber species, especially bamboo, present the best alternative to future timber. It takes 3-5 years for bamboo culms to reach maturity [2]. Research in the processing and utilization of bamboo in Malaysia officially commenced in 1985 with the Small-Scale Entrepreneurship Program in Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Extensive research and development in bamboo processing and utilization [3-6]. Apart from using bamboo to produce traditional products such as basketry, handicraft, paper, joss- sticks, chopsticks, furniture, and traditional social functions, they are also used as materials in light construction, laminated flooring, and laminated paneling. The morphology, anatomy, properties such as physical, strength, durability of bamboo culms have significant effects on their strength [7-10]. Studies on cultivated Bambusa vulgaris conducted by Wahab et al. [11] supported this statement.