Avoid excess traffic in tree root zone to prevent soil compaction and root injury. Make sure susceptible trees receive good general care including irrigation when needed and mulch to conserve moisture and keep mowers away from the trunk. Proper pruning techniques, HO-4-W, will allow branches to heal more rapidly. To reduce the chances of susceptible trees developing wet wood avoid unnecessary wounding of the trunk and branches. Boring holes in affected trees causes internal spread of the bacteria within the tree and may allow entry of wood decay fungi. Inserting a drain tube into the tree to relieve pressure and drain infected sap was once an accepted treatment, but is no longer recommended and may do more harm than good. There is no control or treatment for slime flux. Slime flux is extremely common on mature elms (fig 2), oak (fig 3) and mulberry and is seen less frequently on maples (fig 4), paper birch, sycamore, and walnut. Slime flux may delay wound healing (callus formation). Airborne bacteria, yeasts, and fungi often colonize the wet oozing material, which ferments and releases a foul odor. Oozing sap may be frothy and white at the point of exit. The dark streaks usually turn light gray or white upon drying. The main symptom is the appearance of the dark sap oozing on the trunk exterior which happens when gasses produced by growth of the bacteria and yeast cause the internal pressure of the sap to become high enough to force the sap out through cracks in the bark. The bacteria and yeast may live on sap nutrients within injured trees for many years without any outward evidence. Slime flux is caused by common surface-inhabiting bacteria or yeast fungi that enter the trunk through wounds associated with improper pruning, stem breakage, injections, cracks from freeze injury or weak limb crotches. The disease is not usually a serious problem but the appearance can be alarming. Since there is no “cure” for Bacterial Wetwood, providing proper cultural methods will greatly improve the general health of the tree.Slime flux (also known as wet wood) is a dark, foul-smelling and unsightly seepage of sap from tree trunks (fig. Stressed trees, especially drought-stressed trees, are particularly susceptible to this disease. Because it is chronic, it can contribute to a general decline in the tree health but is not known to directly cause tree death. Insects are often attracted to the odor and congregate around the “leak”.Īlthough chronic, this disease is rarely serious, and the flux may continue year-round or appear just seasonally. Other microorganisms grow in the flux, contributing to the smell. Because the ooze from the tree contains bacteria, it may have a foul odor. The bacteria multiply in the anaerobic environment and may thrive in the tree for several years before pressure builds up and forces the bacteria out of the tree. Bacterial Wetwood occurs when bacteria infect the wood of a tree, usually through a wound in the trunk, limb, or root. Many times, the first time you see a tree “leaking” will be when insects such as Green June Beetles or Hackberry Butterflies are attracted to the fluid seeping out of the trunk and draw your attention to it.īacterial Wetwood, also known as Slime Flux, is a bacterial disease that can affect a variety of tree species, such as oak, elm, mesquite, maples, and others.
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