Question

Are kraft paper tree wraps effective in limiting frost canker (southwest diseases) and/or limiting borer damage? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Ans: Yes, paper tree wraps effectively in limiting frost canker and limiting borer damage. Frost crack is also known as southern canker. This condition damage the bark of the tree due to fluctuations of temperature. The vertical fracture line is seen on the southern facing surface of the tree. It is mostly seen in the late winter and early spring season. Water present in Phloem called inner bark and water present in xylem called wood or outer bark. Due to fluctuation in temperature causes the contraction and expansion of water within the inner bark and outer bark or wood, this fluctuation mainly seen in the night. During night temperature decrease very rapidly. When the temperature is very low, the moisture of cell wall in the lumen of root cell become freeze or, the water present in the cell lumen becomes freeze and causes expansion which leads to the formation of ice lenses in wood. All these events triggered the Frost crack.
Forst cracking prevented by wrapping the tree with light colour paper from the ground level to the First main branch of a tree. This light colour wrapping paper reflects the temperature and this may lead to decreasing temperature fluctuation. Then cracks of tree begin to heal by forming callus. This callus layer continues to form until the entire crack closed.