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Wounding of Trees: The Precursor of Wood Decay

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Science of Wood Degradation and its Protection

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Abstract

Wound or injury is the precursor for inducing wood decay in a living tree as the first and the best level of defence, the bark is damaged in the process of wounding or injuries. Microorganisms, mainly fungi, enter trees through wounds or injuries and such trees are susceptible to wood-feeding insects. These wounds or injuries act as infection court and start the processes that can lead to decay, which is a major cause of damage to trees. The wounds or injuries are usually caused by different abiotic and biotic factors such as fire, weather, insects, birds, small or large animals and anthropogenic activities. This chapter highlights the concept of tree decay, agents causing wounds on trees, impacts of wounds or injuries in living trees, trees’ response to wounding caused by various factors and possible preventing measures to save the economically important wood-yielding tree species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Protection Division, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    V. Mohan & Anish V. Pachu

  2. Forest Protection Division, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    R. Sundararaj

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  1. V. Mohan
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  2. R. Sundararaj
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  3. Anish V. Pachu
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Correspondence to V. Mohan .

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  1. Forest Protection Division, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    R. Sundararaj

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Mohan, V., Sundararaj, R., Pachu, A.V. (2022). Wounding of Trees: The Precursor of Wood Decay. In: Sundararaj, R. (eds) Science of Wood Degradation and its Protection. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8797-6_3

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