Chemical Properties Associated with Bacterial Wetwood in Red Oaks

Authors

  • Zicai Xu
  • Theodor D. Leininger
  • Andy W. C. Lee
  • Frank H. Tainter

Keywords:

Chemical properties, wetwood, red oaks, tree disease identification

Abstract

Bacterial wetwood is a major cause of value loss in the red oak lumber industry in the United States. Red oak trees in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida were sampled and evaluated for certain chemical properties possibly associated with the wetwood condition. Specific variables investigated were pH and concentrations of methane, cations (Na+, Ca+-, K+, and Mg++), nonstructural carbohydrates, and organic acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate).

The degree of bacterial wetwood infection and development was greater in red oaks from Mississippi than from South Carolina as evidenced by increased concentrations of methane, total Na+, total K+, total Ca++, and by decreased concentrations of total sugar and reducing sugar. Of all the variables tested, methane concentration was the best indicator of wetwood in living red oak trees at all three locations. pH was not an indicator of wetwood in living trees or in green red oak lumber. of the remaining variables tested, greater concentrations of acetic acid, total K+, and lesser concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates characterized wetwood-affected trees, but their potential as wetwood indicators depends on wetwood severity, not its mere presence.

References

Bauch, J., W. Höll, and R. Endeward. 1975. Some aspects of wetwood formation in fir. Holzforschung29:198-205.nCarter, J. C. 1945. Wetwood of elms. Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull.23:407-488.nClark, John M., Jr., ed. 1964. Experimental biochemistry. W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, CA. 228 pp.nDubois, M., K. A. Gilles, J. K. Hamilton, P. A. Rebers, and F. Smith. 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem.28:350-356.nFukazawa, K., M. Ujiie, L. Ki-Yeong, and T. Ishii. 1985. Inorganic constituents in wood relation to wetwood and crystal formation. Symposium on Forest Products Research International-Achievements and the Future, 22-26 April 1985, CSIR Conference Centre, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa 16.15.1-16.15.9.nHamilton, W. D. 1980. Wetwood and slime flux in landscape trees. J. Arbor.6:247-249.nHartley, C., R. W. Davidson, and B. S. Crandall. 1961. Wetwood, bacteria, and increased pH in trees. USDA For. Prod. Lab. Rep. No. 2215. Madison, WI. 34 pp.nHocker, Jr., H. W. 1979. Introduction to forest biology. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, NY. 467 pp.nMcLemore, J. B., W. C. Bridges, A. W. Lee, and F. H. Tainter. 1999. Selected mechanical and physical properties of Chilean tepa wood affected by butterfly stain. Forest Prod. J.49(2):59-64.nMcMillen, J. M., J. C. Ward, and J. Chern. 1979. Drying procedures for bacterially infected northern red oak lumber. USDA For. Prod. Lab. Res. Pap. FPL 345. Madison, WI. 15 pp.nMurdoch, C. W. 1992. Detection system to identify wetwood in standing living trees and in cut logs and boards. Transferring Technology for Industry No. 1 ISSN 1064-3452. Beltsville, MD. 15 pp.nMurdoch, C. W., R. J. Campana, and C. J. Biermann. 1987. Physical and chemical properties of wetwood in American elm (Ulmus americana). Can. J. Pl. Path.9:20-23.nPrescott, L. M., J. P. Harley, and D. A. Klein. 1990. Microbiology. 2nd ed. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. Dubuque, IO. 912 pp.nRoss, R. J., J. C. Ward, and A. Tenwolde. 1992. Identifying bacterially infected oak by stress wave nondestructive evaluation. USDA For. Prod. Lab. Res. Pap. FPL 512. Madison, WI. 6 pp.nRoss, R. J., J. C. Ward, and A. Tenwolde. 1994. Stress wave nonde-structive evaluation of wetwood. Forest Prod.44(7/8):79-83.nSchroeder, H. A., and C. J. Kozlik. 1972. The chartrcterization of wetwood in western hemlock. Wood Sci. Technol.6:85-94.nStipes, R. J. 1971. Wetwood of landscape trees in Virginia. Plant Disease Control Notes, Extension Division, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. Control Series 139. 2 pp.nToole, E. R. 1968. Wetwood in cottonwood. Plant Disease Rep.52:822-823.nVerkasalo, E., R. J. Ross, A. Tenwolde, and R. L. Youngs. 1993. Properties related to drying defects in red oak wetwood. USDA For. Prod. Lab. Res. Pap. FPL 516. Madison, WI. 10 pp.nWard, J. C. 1972. Anaerobic bacteria associated with honeycomb and ring failure in red and black oak lumber. Phytopathology62:796.nWard, J. C. 1982. Bacterial oak and how to dry it. Southern Lumberman243:8-11.nWard, J. C., and W. Y. Pong. 1980. Wetwood in trees: A timber resource problem. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-I12. 56 pp.nWard, J. C., and J. G. Zeikus. 1980. Bacteriological, chemical and physical properties of wetwood in living trees. Pages 113-166 in J. Bauch, ed. Natural variations of wood properties. Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst-und Holzwirtschaft Nr. 131. Hamburg-Reinbek: Max Wiedehusen Verlag.nWorrall, J. J., and J. R. Parmeter, Jr. 1982. Formation and properties of wetwood in white fir. Phytopathology72:1209-1212.nXu, Z., T. D. Leininger, A. W. C. Lee, and F. H. Tainter. 2000. Physical mechanical, and drying properties associated with bacterial wetwood in red oaks. Forest Prod. J. (submitted).nZeikus, J. G., and J. C. Ward. 1974. Methane formation in living trees: A microbial origin. Science184:1181-1183.n

Downloads

Published

2007-06-05

Issue

Section

Research Contributions