Stem wound closure of fagraea fragrans roxb.(tembusu)

Abstract

Mechanical wound that occur on tree trunk leads to the damaging of plant tissue, weaken tree structure, distracting sap translocation, and giving an entry for pathogens infections. Effective wound closure mechanism is crucial to protect plant tissue from the invasion of biotic agents which may lead to stem disease or decay. This study was conducted to examine wound closure rate and mechanisms of Fagraeafragrans in heath vegetation on BRIS (Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales) site of Rantau Abang, Terengganu. Fagraea fragrans trees, which the diameter at breast height ranged from 5 cm to 7 cm, were artificially wounded by exposing the sapwood (N = 5) and the inner bark (N = 5). The wound closure mechanism followed the CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Tree) model through formation of wound periderm in exposed inner bark and callus in exposed sapwood wound. There were no significant differences between wound closure rate in width between exposed sapwood and exposed inner bark.