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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (6): 130-140.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20220481

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Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Heart Rot of Ancient Ginkgo biloba Trees in Beijing

Qingcheng Fu,Erfa Qiu*,Yuan Zhang,Huichao Wang,Lanhong Huang   

  1. Urban Forest Research Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration Research Institute of Forestry, CAF Beijing 100091
  • Received:2022-07-14 Accepted:2023-05-09 Online:2023-06-25 Published:2023-08-08
  • Contact: Erfa Qiu

Abstract:

Objective: Ancient ginkgo trees are an important part of social culture and urban ecosystem. This study aims to reveal the centre rot characteristics and influence factors of ancient ginkgo trees, to put forward targeted resource management and protection strategies of ancient ginkgo trees, and hence maintain the ecological and cultural heritage and the health of ancient tree resources. Method: In this paper, an ARBOTOM tree trunk tomography scanner was used to randomly select 100 ancient ginkgo trees in Beijing for heart rot measurement and on-site investigation. The images of the heart rot were divided and calculated, and the characteristics of the trunk heart rot were analyzed. The correlations between rot and growth index, health index, morphological index and environmental index were studied, to explore the relevant influencing factors of heart rot of ancient ginkgo trees. Result: The result showed that the number of different centre rot grades of ancient ginkgo trees in Beijing from large to small was grade 3 > grade 2 > grade 1 > grade 4 successively. The frequency of centre rot initial points in three different positions of the trunk from high to low was sapwood (Y) > pith (S) > middle part (X). The probability of centre rot area at different locations was pith (48.75%) followed by the middle part (41.63%) and then sapwood (37.06%), showing a gradual decline from inside to outside. Among the influence factors, the diameter at breast height ( R2=0.376), tree-age grade (R2=0.217), tree height (R2=0.038), trunk disease (R2=0.268), trunk insect pest (R2=0.230), bark damage (R2=0.224) and soil density (R2=0.024) had a significant correlation with centre rot (P < 0.01). The crown height ratio, root system growing space and crown growth space had significant correlation with the heart rot index ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The centre rot of ancient ginkgo trees occurs mainly in the pith and sapwood regions of the trunk. Although the initial centre rot is mainly caused by the infection of trunk sapwood, the harm caused by heart rot occurred in the pith is more serious. The trunk health of ancient ginkgo trees gradually declines as the trees grow, and the decline will accelerate when the rot or hollow happens to the trunk. Furthermore, the centre rot of ancient ginkgo tree is significantly correlated with diameter at breast height, tree height, tree-age grade, trunk diseases and pests and bark damage, and the environmental indexes (soil density, root system and canopy growth space) may influence the centre rot of ancient ginkgo trees to some extent. Therefore, it's necessary for managers to timely evaluate the health status of ancient ginkgo trees and strengthen the internal centre rot detection of ancient ginkgo trunk health. The growth status of ancient trees can to a certain extent be used as a reference to evaluate the internal health status, so as to efficiently evaluate the health status of the ginkgo tree population. In addition, in terms of management, it is necessary to pay attention to prevention and control of diseases and pests on ancient ginkgo trees and repair of bark damage, reduce the occurrence of environmental damage, expand the growth space of ancient ginkgo trees within the achievable scope and timely loosen the soil to ensure adequate growth space and nutrient supply.

Key words: ancient ginkgo tree, trunk heart rot, heart rot characteristics, Beijing

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