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Formation of Olelresin and Lignans in Sapwood of White Spruce in Response to Wounding

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Sapwood of white spruce (Picea glauca) was wounded in the spring with an increment borer. Tissue adjacent to the wound, collected 4-9 months after injury, was more decay resistant than uninjured tissue when exposed to Poria monticola or Coriolus versicolor. No significant quantitative or qualitative differences in lignans were observed between injured and uninjured sapwood. Injured sapwood contained 30% heptane solubles, compared to approximately 2% for uninjured sapwood or heartwood. This heptane fraction contained almost entirely resin acids. Impregnation of decay-subsceptible wood of cottonwood (Populus deltoides) with dehydroacietic acid, or with a mixture of resin acids, resulted in a similar increase in decay resistance.

Citation

Hart, J.H.; Wardell, J.F.; Hemingway, Richard W. 1975. Formation of Olelresin and Lignans in Sapwood of White Spruce in Response to Wounding. Phytopathology 65(4):412-417
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8017