Lac Balsam® as a treatment to hasten wound closure and minimize discoloration and decay

Abstract

Lac Balsam® with or without Binab® (a commercial formulation of Trichoderma spp.) or orange shellac was applied to shallow wounds made in Norway maple, honeylocust, eastern white pine, and eastern hemlock in November and June. Subsequent dissection and measurement of the wounded portions of the trees 16 to 24 months later indicated that the dressings had little or no consistent effect on wound closure or compartmentalization except for honeylocust wounded in June where all of the dressings appeared to reduce the lengths of columns of discolored wood. Lac Balsam also reduced pitch mass borer colonization of wounds in eastern white pine. None of 36 Lac Balsam-treated wounds were colonized by the insect, whereas 5 of 27 untreated wounds were.