kauri grafting

kauriman · 31st July 2007, 02:00 PM

Check out the link. An interesting experiment.

Patch up for ancient kauri tree damaged in storm | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

Quote:

Patch up for king of the forest
Jul 29, 2007 7:32 PM

Forest workers have mounted a daring attempt to breath new life into an ancient Northland kauri badly damaged in storms earlier this month.

A wind gust is believed to have ripped out a rata tree growing from the trunk of te matua ngahere in the Waipoua Forest. And it has left the host tree, that could be up to 3000 years old, exposed to disease.

Stephen King from the Waipoua Forest Trust was more than happy to rise to the occasion and check out the gaping wound at a height of 30 metres.

The gouge left when the rata was torn from the kauri trunk means the tree is exposed to disease and rot and King's task also involved patching up the hole.

In an experiment similar to what would happen with a burn victim, healthy flesh from the tree was grafted onto the wound.

"The bark is very thick so I have to peel back to the bark and shave back the bark until it is thinner...if we can put life into here, some green shoots for him to feed, it will keep this part of the tree alive for longer," says King.

In a few months all eyes will be searching for new growth and if the shoots take it could add centuries to an already long life.

Sean Freeman · 31st July 2007, 02:43 PM

Excellent link! Thats something you'll have to keep us abreast of mate since you know we'l hear nothing of it here eh?

Its exactly the same biological process that leads to epicormics sprouting out along declining limbs in old or very stressed trees...the system in that case is attempting to inject life (sugars) into the limb through the photosynthesis from the epicormics....a big reason why we should be very circumspect when we go about removing epicormics from older (100yr+) trees, keeping in mind that they are sometimes part of the trees' survival plan.

Thanks again kauriman good link

Eric Frei · 31st July 2007, 07:34 PM

If Stephen King is on it you got no worries.

Haha, be interesting to see what happens down the track.

TrevMcRev · 1st August 2007, 08:57 PM

Wow! Brilliant. Hope this works.

Ever been done sucessfully before that anyones aware of?

Jeff Darby · 1st August 2007, 09:40 PM

WoW,..How kewl is that!..we will have to keep track of this.

Good stuff, Kauriman,..

kauriman · 2nd August 2007, 09:17 AM

Yong kauri have been successfully grafted before. That is tissue from old trees onto a young tree.

This is the first time to our knowledge that an attempt has been made on a mature specimen.

I'll keep you posted.

Kauriman

wulkowicz · 30th May 2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

Excellent link! Thats something you'll have to keep us abreast of mate since you know we'l hear nothing of it here eh?

Its exactly the same biological process that leads to epicormics sprouting out along declining limbs in old or very stressed trees...the system in that case is attempting to inject life (sugars) into the limb through the photosynthesis from the epicormics....a big reason why we should be very circumspect when we go about removing epicormics from older (100yr+) trees, keeping in mind that they are sometimes part of the trees' survival plan.

Thanks again kauriman good link

I found this thread in one of my wanderings, and Sean is right on. This was my irritation about the cliche', "Water sprouts sap the vigor of the tree." We still seen to mutter about the mistakes the trees make, and we don't quite have the humility to understand that we might not lways be bright enough to know what they're doing.

After pruning, the area around the wound often has multiple flushes of growths with many leaves. Strikes me that the tree is attempting to re-create the sugar source that had suddenly disappeared. It is not only logical, it's biologically smart.

There used to be a full-time contributor to the overlay and overlap of the cambium's of the trunk and the missing limb. With one contributor gone, the tree tries to make up for the loss was the only mechanisms that has; leaves.

Am I correct in remembering very few of these clusters at limbs that have died "naturally"?

Aren't the epicormal sprouts an emergency response to the sudden destruction of a previously stable relationship between two woody cylinders?

And if we don't find this response in a context of pruning, why shouldn't we suspect that epicormal growth isn't an indicator of some other problems?

Too often, a tree is accused of bad habits (species inclination) are not being bright enough to know better. Once those myths have been established, a prevalent practice becomes the foundation of cosmetic correction.

It's not a good metaphor, but it is a bit like holding up your hand for help and having someone cut it off. You then discover you can grow in other hand and hold one up again--and that one gets cut off.

After a while. you just give up--just like a tree.

Bob Wulkowicz

31st July 2007, 07:34 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,816	If Stephen King is on it you got no worries. Haha, be interesting to see what happens down the track. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

1st August 2007, 09:40 PM	#5
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	WoW,..How kewl is that!..we will have to keep track of this. Good stuff, Kauriman,.. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

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31st July 2007, 02:43 PM	#2
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Excellent link! Thats something you'll have to keep us abreast of mate since you know we'l hear nothing of it here eh? Its exactly the same biological process that leads to epicormics sprouting out along declining limbs in old or very stressed trees...the system in that case is attempting to inject life (sugars) into the limb through the photosynthesis from the epicormics....a big reason why we should be very circumspect when we go about removing epicormics from older (100yr+) trees, keeping in mind that they are sometimes part of the trees' survival plan. Thanks again kauriman good link

1st August 2007, 08:57 PM	#4
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,605	Wow! Brilliant. Hope this works. Ever been done sucessfully before that anyones aware of?

2nd August 2007, 09:17 AM	#6
kauriman Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NZ Posts: 53	Yong kauri have been successfully grafted before. That is tissue from old trees onto a young tree. This is the first time to our knowledge that an attempt has been made on a mature specimen. I'll keep you posted. Kauriman