(Arboricultural-styled) 'Fact of the Day'

[Kveldssanger]

Question - are there any papers that look into phenology of trees and fungi, in the sense that where trees are at their weakest point phenologically the potentially-infecting fungi will be at their best (or in a good state at least, to readily establish)?

[Gary Prentice]

I would have thought the function of the vascular cambium was primarily annual increment growth, with the benefits of undifferentiated meristematic tissue for regeneration being secondary in importance.

 

You asked for discussion.

[Kveldssanger]

If you're referring to the fact from today, I doubt the authors are suggesting anything different. The comment the authors made was purely with regards to coppicing ability, and the suspected origins. Only when the vascular system is so horrendously wounded that it ceases to function properly, or is removed due to snapping of the trunk, from fire, browsing damage,or otherwise, will dormant buds activate and perhaps trump incremental growth for that single point in time where incremental growth is of lesser importance.

 

If your point is with regards to the use of clonal propagation in a historic sense by early woody angiosperms, I am afraid I cannot really elaborate (though again I do imagine that incremental growth is the most critical aspect; at least initially - competition for light would have been a driver for such incremental growth until the canopy was occupied, though if the canopy was not occupied due to high shade tolerance then perhaps such species could remain smaller and focus more on reproduction after a while). If you're interested in reading the article from where that comment came see here.

Edited August 27, 2015 by Kveldssanger

[Gary Prentice]

If you're referring to the fact from today, I doubt the authors are suggesting anything different. The comment the authors made was purely with regards to coppicing ability, and the suspected origins. Only when the vascular system is so horrendously wounded that it ceases to function properly, or is removed due to snapping of the trunk, from fire, browsing damage,or otherwise, will dormant buds activate and perhaps trump incremental growth for that single point in time where incremental growth is of lesser importance.

 

If your point is with regards to the use of clonal propagation in a historic sense by early woody angiosperms, I am afraid I cannot really elaborate (though again I do imagine that incremental growth is the most critical aspect; at least initially - competition for light would have been a driver for such incremental growth until the canopy was occupied, though if the canopy was not occupied due to high shade tolerance then perhaps such species could remain smaller and focus more on reproduction after a while). If you're interested in reading the article from where that comment came see here.

 

Bit heavy reading for 6.30 a.m, I'll see your 'here', and raise you with: http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1999-59-4-aging-and-rejuvenation-in-trees.pdf

 

 

Maybe a subject for a new thread, but can anyone explain why beech doesn't coppice, or many/most coniferous species.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Gary Prentice

[Kveldssanger]

Will look at that later - got work soon. Else, I'll read it in my lunch break.

 

I read something about why somewhere, though cannot remember the source. Will try to find...

[armybloke]

I was discussing the merits of keeping an untidy lawn, raising the blade height on the mower etc instead of wasting 'holiday money' on fertilizers, moss killers and his electricity and time to get a perfect bowling green that no one must set foot on but merely admire!

 

I read with interest only yesterday that many of the fine roots of a tree reside only a few centimetres below the surface and some interweave with the roots of the grass so when matey here rakes his grass he is also severing thousands of micro-roots from his trees! So when I go back and he asks me why his tree may be suffering, not only is his fertilizer, moss killer and any other paraphernalia he throws on his 'bowling green' killing the tree, his trusty rake is too.

 

A top read is Trees, Their Natural History (2nd Edition) although read the 1st Edition as Peter picks up on his previous books facts and expands on them.

[Kveldssanger]

Fertilisers with high nitrogen certainly help to kill mycorrhizae within the soil, and applied at the wrong time of year can encourage growth that cannot lignify before autumn / winter. Further, fertilisers high in mineral salts encourage plasmolysis of root cells, which can injure / kill them (the non-woody roots).

 

Guy sounds like he knows how to stress a tree!

 

Got the first edition of that book, not the second. One day I'll upgrade...

[White Noise]

To all the Lady's and Gentlemen who love trees / tree work and also are lucky enough to work in the industry . Well we really need to educate people who work in the industry just for a wage on how these magnificent statues of nature work

[Gary Prentice]

To all the Lady's and Gentlemen who love trees / tree work and also are lucky enough to work in the industry . Well we really need to educate people who work in the industry just for a wage on how these magnificent statues of nature work

 

Don't we just:thumbup1:

[Kveldssanger]

Rather tired today from work and gym, so no fact will be provided. Want to finish reading Modern Arboriculture, as well.