Your Participation is Requested! Tree managers, arborists, and foresters are being asked to submit samples of failed wood to the "Wood Decay - Tree Failure Project." It is quick, simple, and free, thanks to The Britton Fund.
Tree failure is common, but its causes are only partially understood. While many broken
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Tree Failure. By UCCE Marin.
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trees show clear signs of wood decay at the point of failure, other failures occur in wood that appears sound and decay free. This project will build an understanding of which fungal species are associated with tree failures by using a DNA assay to analyze wood samples for the presence of fungi from the point of failure. Even wood that looks sound can be tested, thus revealing the role of these organisms in incipient decay that may lead to failure.
Simply collect a small sample of the failed wood (per sample kit instructions) and fill out a Tree Failure Form (capturing details of the failure). Sample kits and pre-paid envelopes can be obtained by contacting Igor Laćan at
ilacan@ucanr.edu
. Results will be sent to you in 6-8 weeks as well as entered in the Tree Failure Database. For more information, visit
www.wooddecay.org and "Factoring Wood Decay into Risk Assessment."
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