Gunk on Syc - can anyone id and advise?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

many thanks...

[Stephen Blair]

on fire plastic bottle thrown against the tree! sorry john thats the best i can do

[gmanntpo]

Hi mate

 

This looks very much like bacterial wetwood to me. The exudation may smell 'yeasty' or unpleasent due to colonisation by other bacteria/fungi.

 

It leaves a dark, black stain when dry and can form quite a crust. It is also often found where cracks have formed with inrolled callus. This appears to be the case here.

 

In general in its self B/W is not much of a tree health issue as the slime flux produced is not toxic. It can apparently cause dieback, if the bacteria and its toxic soup(!) are drawn up into the xylem and into the transpiration system. The fluxing through the cracks etc are thought to be like a 'safety vent' system when the pressure of gas builds up and as such are not an issue.

 

Interestingly, it is thought that the anerobic conditons prevent decay fungi developing. So is it a good thing?? I guess that is for people to make their own minds up about...

 

Of course other organisms can cause similar bleeding, phytophthora, bark death by fungi, or abiotic casues such as fire damage.

 

Neverthless from the pics, I consider B/W in its truest sense to be a likely cause..

 

Regards

 

Gmann

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

on fire plastic bottle thrown against the tree! sorry john thats the best i can do

 

lol!

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Hi mate

 

This looks very much like bacterial wetwood to me. The exudation may smell 'yeasty' or unpleasent due to colonisation by other bacteria/fungi.

 

It leaves a dark, black stain when dry and can form quite a crust. It is also often found where cracks have formed with inrolled callus. This appears to be the case here.

 

In general in its self B/W is not much of a tree health issue as the slime flux produced is not toxic. It can apparently cause dieback, if the bacteria and its toxic soup(!) are drawn up into the xylem and into the transpiration system. The fluxing through the cracks etc are thought to be like a 'safety vent' system when the pressure of gas builds up and as such are not an issue.

 

Interestingly, it is thought that the anerobic conditons prevent decay fungi developing. So is it a good thing?? I guess that is for people to make their own minds up about...

 

Of course other organisms can cause similar bleeding, phytophthora, bark death by fungi, or abiotic casues such as fire damage.

 

Neverthless from the pics, I consider B/W in its truest sense to be a likely cause..

 

Regards

 

Gmann

 

CHEERS!