Do trees get "Cancer"

playfordtree

Did a web search on this topic, answers were a bit ambivalent.


Anyone got any ideas?

(All wild, drunken, drug induced theories will be accepted)

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Euthanizing South Australian Trees
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JohN Dee

Yes and no, I just think the wording is wrong and I cbf doing any factual research on this at the moment. I guess Tree "cancer" would be the laymans term at saying the tree has been infected by a pathogen...

From my brief googling I found that there are some cancers that we humans get with the word tree in the name of the cancer...

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playfordtree

Sounds like you've had a bad day John?

Mate, it's probably a rhetorical question.

I was hoping it would give the overpaid and underworked consulting arborists something to think about.

Plus, if i'm lucky i might learn something as well.

I know it sounds like a "laymans" question,

But remember,

An arborist might ignite your passion in trees.
but,
A layman always pays your wage.

Regards Simon

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Steve Tipton

Simon, you're not confusing CANCER with CANKER are you?
Steve

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Heightmaster

JohN Dee

Lol, well put Simon.

Come to think of it I was having a pretty up and down day (good/bad) but that wasn't in my mind whilst posting. I was just really tired and had been waiting for the shower for ages after my whole freeekin' family + GF decided to have their showers before me. Oh and also my laptop is a hunk of junk bout to go back for warranty once I back it up

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playfordtree

Howdy Steve, nah mate it was a topic i raised in this thread of Sean's.

Euc grafting or what?

I don't know why, but the thought just popped into my head "do trees get cancer"
(must be the beer again)

I could only find obscure references when i did a web search.

It's probably a dumb question, but i thought it might provoke some discussion.

Cheers Simon

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TreeDimensional

Is there a chance the scrotal sacks could be a self-preservation plan to keep beer-breathed tree loppers AWAY?

playfordtree

LOL

Ask your old man why the hell was he having a shower.

He should know that old bikers are only supposed to wash in june & january.


Dont get me started on computers, if any other product you owned gave you as much trouble as your computer, you would take it back to the shop and shove it up the salesmans a..
bloody computers

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playfordtree

Smartass!

Is that the best you can come up with
"ya fur hat wearing Canuck"

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TreeDimensional

Well Playford, NO it isn't the best but there are limits ya know!

OK on a more serious note, I (personally) don't believe trees get cancer. I have a theory on the cause of cancer, but thats a completly differant topic. The fact is that there has been little research into what is good for the trees. Ironically the rainforest is considered the drugstore for humanity, and we take, take take, and never give back.

A couple years ago was the first time ever that the gnome of a Black Poplar was mapped, and as far as I know they are still shocked at what they found. In respect to the lower plant forms, we have studied them to death, ALL for the benefit of making them MORE productive, or prettier for planting around the house.

As far as the plants changing, it happens, the same with people. In the post war years, the Japanese people have gained dramatically in height. We ALL co-exist in a thin membrane called the atmosphere, it is only logical that we ALL will adapt or die.

I hope for the trees, that they can be spared the horrors of human diseases.

playfordtree

Well said Brent

Perhaps i should clarify a little bit, when i said "cancer, i meant has anyone noticed a defect or a disease in a tree that could be considered "cancerlike"

Thanks for reminding me about Treeworld posting rule 1.
I know i push the limits sometimes, but i usually always mean it in good humour.
Whether it's considered funny or not, i guess it's up to the individuals interpretation.
Cheers

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TreeDimensional

LOL Playford, I know you were kidding, so I held back on the twice a year shower, and the down the road "hair issues".

As far as the "cancer-like symptoms", the search goes on for the cause/cure for humans. I think the trees might have to wait a while. OR, perhaps the trees and other plants hold the secret, and we haven't explored there enough yet.

I'll give you another clue as to what I think causes cancer in humans. Now don't forget that I am a simple farmer and an arborist. What is the primary difference between humans and animals?

playfordtree

One is your wife, the other is your "Girlfriend" , baa baa.

Do you call her Mary?

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JohN Dee

Animals know no better and remain innocent, where as we humans as people do know better and the majority of us over the age of 18 arn't innocent?

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We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT...

Red : Green : Blue

playfordtree

Ok,

I've done a bit more looking, this is all i can find so far.

Plant cancer Text - Physics Forums Library

www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2002/Projects/J1404.pdf

Do trees get cancer because of the fall of Adam & Eve? - Yahoo!7 Answers

Is this a tree cancer pictures from scenery & nature photos on webshots

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gump

hmmm, interesting question. i know trees are susceptible to many external forces which in turn create internal problems.
the only thing i have noticed and that i can think of that could be close to a cancer , would be a bracket fungi. after the removal of an "infected" tree looking at the CODIT trying to be performed by the tree, it cant keep up with the internal decay. its spreads all over, and eventually the bracket claims its victim. and i am unaware of any cure for this.
anyone got any clues?

scott forrest.

newguy18

Definatly something to research on and think about.great question.[btw don't get me started Simon.]

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old schooler

Mick Dundee

More than likely the ones that smoke do.

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TreeSpecialist

In so much as "cancer" is defined as an undifferentiated cell growth," one could call some cankers and most bacterial galls "cancer like."

Many people will use analogies between humans and trees when trying to explain tree problems. When closely examined, the analogies don't really work. Many who fall into the habit of using these analogies wind up believing them to the point of not truly understanding how trees work (and many never knew in the first place.)

Trees are in a completely different "kingdom" than any warm blooded animal and respond differently to their environment. Outside the Plant Kingdom, most everything else has the ability to react and get out of the way of what ever is attacking it. Trees do not have immune systems, do not have white blood cells to attack foreign organisms or foreign bodies, and they don't repair themselves by reconnecting blood vessels and muscle tissue.

When attacked by nature (or man,) trees must take what ever comes and deal with it. Trees which expend a great deal of stored energy producing chemicals to resist decay live the longest. These are often the slowest growing trees (redwoods, most oaks.) Those trees which expend little energy towards producing these chemicals instead grow very quickly (mulberry, hackberry, ash, etc.) and have a relatively short life.

Instead of making "human" analogies I find it's better understood if I explain or teach my clients more about tree anatomy and tree function.

Example: "Trees don't heal - trees SEAL over their wounds." (Dr. Alex Shigo)

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Treelore

A cancer within Humans in this sense, is not an infection.. in that it is not some external rampant organism growing rife in your body ( although of course it may be caused and usually is by something external). A cancer through whatever causal agent is your own cells getting mixed information and dividing at a rate that is no longer in control of normal cell division. Hence causing a growth. It only requires one cell to mix up the billions of peices of information that it has to collaborate and interpret every second to have this happen. A Canker is an infection by a fungus or disease within a tree. we also can get disease infections and they cause cancer but the cells that are created are human, they are simply a causality . Athletes foot is fungal, a cold is viral, and strepp throat is bacterial. All three of these if they mess with your cells may cause an cancer but they are not themselves Cancer. So as I mentioned in the link thread although it may not pertain to Sean's particular observations. A Burl IS a cancer. It is a rapid mutation and division of cells.
Not even sure this makes sense to me now...hope this clears things up