Odd thickening on cherry

[daltontrees]

I was pruning a cherry yesterday and I came across this. A branch about the thickness of your thumb, but as it got closer to the stem it narrowed to about the thickness of a pencil. First pic is the whole branch. Second shows the point of narrowing, looking towards the stem attachment. The third is looking the other way, out towards the tips.

 

Anyone got any ideas what has caused this?

[Arb Rhino]

Possibly a grafted branch?

 

 

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[sloth]

Could be related to a localised decay. Or, I've seen similar before when the branch is supported by another at the change in diameter, the tree will put on more growth where it needs to; So it gets thicker beyond the point of support

[daltontrees]

Possibly a grafted branch?

 

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Don't think so, it was 4 metres up in a 9 metre high tree, the only branch showing this characteristic. I appreciate the response though, 170 views and 2 responses...

[daltontrees]

Could be related to a localised decay. Or, I've seen similar before when the branch is supported by another at the change in diameter, the tree will put on more growth where it needs to; So it gets thicker beyond the point of support

 

I see what you mean, but there was absolutely no evidence of support near the thickening. There was a tiny spot of decay at the thickening, I still have the relevant branch and if I get a moment tomorrow I will try and disect it.

[sloth]

That'd be good, I'd like to see inside it. I'm surprised you haven't already to be honest! You seem like an inquisitive fellow...

[daltontrees]

That'd be good, I'd like to see inside it. I'm surprised you haven't already to be honest! You seem like an inquisitive fellow...

 

Inquisitive but busy and dissections come after income and family.

[daltontrees]

I couldn't stop myself. Here is the dissected bend whrer the odd thickening starts. Remember, the thicker part is further from the trunk than the thin part.

 

Any more thoughts from anyone?

 

I will keep these bits and dry them out then sand and stain them to try and trace the grain a bit better.

Edited November 17, 2013 by daltontrees

[agg221]

I used to work as a cherry picker in the season, so have spent quite a lot of time up cherry trees over the years.

 

I think what you are looking at is damage to the leader (where the black bit is) resulting in growth from a side bud. This is what is indicated by the grain pattern. I would speculate that the damage here was from bacterial canker, which cherries are prone to and doesn't always progress, so it can cause damage rather than death, resulting in a level of damage down as far as the bud which broke. This has interfered with the genetic material at the tip, causing it to grow in an odd way. I've seen others where it results in the stem being flattened, or growing sort of wings out of the side of the stem, or spiralling, or growing really long with no strength so it hangs straight down several feet and flowers at the wrong time of year!

 

Alec

[openspaceman]

I appreciate the response though, 170 views and 2 responses...

 

I didn't comment because I haven't a clue.

 

I have seen ring barked pine with similar growth above the ring and put it down to the bark cambium no longer feeding the root, the root being sustained from adjacent tree root grafts. As sap flow from root to top is maintained in the woody tissue the tree carries on growing above the cut.