Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function

Problem 10

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Chapter 33, Problem 10

Trees can be killed by girdling—the removal of bark and vascular cambium in a ring all the way around the tree. Explain why.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Vascular Cambium

The vascular cambium is a layer of tissue in plants that is responsible for secondary growth, producing new xylem (wood) and phloem (bark). It is crucial for the transport of water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the tree. When girdling occurs, the vascular cambium is damaged, disrupting these essential functions and ultimately leading to the tree's death.

Bark Function

Bark serves as a protective outer layer for trees, safeguarding against physical damage and pathogens. It also plays a role in the transport of nutrients and water through the phloem. Removing the bark in a girdle cuts off this protective barrier and the phloem's ability to transport sugars from the leaves to the roots, which is vital for the tree's survival.

Photosynthesis and Nutrient Transport

Photosynthesis is the process by which trees convert sunlight into energy, producing glucose that fuels their growth. The sugars produced in the leaves are transported down through the phloem to the roots and other parts of the tree. Girdling interrupts this transport system, leading to a depletion of energy resources in the roots, which can cause the tree to die.

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Textbook Question

Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil, and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth? Researchers tested the effects of acid rain (pH 2.0) on seedlings of two different species, camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and chinaberry tree (Melia azederach), using distilled water as a control. Results of the experiments are shown here. Note that acid rain caused a significant reduction of growth in chinaberry trees (*** means P < 0.001), but not in camphor trees. What was the approximate percentage of growth reduction observed in the chinaberry trees treated with acid rain?