Can wound wood’s haptotropic nature be artificially manipulated to utilise edaphoecotropism?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Numerous modern dynamic bracing systems are now available throughout the arboricultural industry. These replace the practice of invasive rigid bracing, often shown to weaken structural security through the causation of decay. Furthermore, in historic cases where extensive internal decay develops, the edaphoecotropic occlusion of the bracing system with newer wood provides additional strength to the resulting system. Additionally, it can be shown that wound wood (ww) resulting from cambial damage is stronger and faster growing than average annual growth. This paper explores the concept of inducing ww with the aim of utilising a wood’s haptotropic nature to occlude objects. The findings identified that small longitudinal fenestration wounds >15 mm in width can be occluded within a year with low chance of further dysfunction or decay. The concept was tested by successfully inserting plastic “I” beams [lengths of plastic with a cross section of an “I”, used frequently for hobbyist construction and in this case as they had a winged base and were of the size required] into 1 mm width cambial wounds on a Norway maple (Acer platanoidies), demonstrating that it is possible to utilise induced ww to capture an object without causing lasting damage to the tree.