The Effect of Adelgid-Altered Wood On Sapwood Conductance of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Abstract

Potential sapwood flow rates were measured for Fraser fir sterns that previously had been infested by the balsam woolly adelgid. The amount of abnormal wood produced during infestation was inversely related to the flow rate and linearly related to the amount of heartwood area. These results support the hypothesis that abnormal wood production associated with adelgid infestation can lead to water stress in the crowns of infested trees. The data also suggest that adelgid infestation accelerates the formation of heartwood.