Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 266-276.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2025.02.012

• Original Paper • Previous Articles    

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Heart Rot in Ancient Elm Trees in Hohhot

Yaowen SUN1, Haifeng NAN2(), Xiaomin WANG3, Lang ZUO4, Ruohan NAN5   

  1. 1.College of Desert Control Science and Engineering,Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,Hohhot 010010
    2.School of Architecture and Planning,Inner Mongolia Technical College of Construction,Hohhot 010070
    3.Hohhot Garden Construction Service Center,Hohhot 010000
    4.Ordos Department of Afforestation,Ordos 014300
    5.College of Forestry,Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,Hohhot 010010
  • Received:2024-10-04 Online:2025-03-20 Published:2025-04-07
  • Contact: Haifeng NAN E-mail:21062884@qq.com

Abstract:

The characteristics and influencing factors of heart rot in ancient elm trees in Hohhot were studied, and protection strategies for ancient elm trees were proposed to provide a theoretical basis for their conservation. In this study, Picus3 stress wave trunk cross-sectional scanner and TRU tree radar detection system were used to determine the heart rot characteristics of 44 ancient elm samples in Hohhot by 1∶1 stratified random sampling method. Linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between heart rot of ancient elm trees and health indicators, morphological indicators and environmental indicators, and to explore the related factors influencing heart rot of ancient elm trees. The results showed that the quantity proportion of heart rot grades of ancient elm trees in Hohhot was ranked from large to small as grade Ⅱ>Ⅲ>Ⅰ>Ⅳ, and the frequency of the beginning point of trunk heart rot was ranked from high to low as pith(S, 36 times)>trunk sapwood(B, 25 times)>middle trunk(Z, 14 times). The distribution of root density in the vertical and horizontal directions was consistent, indicating that the closer to the trunk, the greater the root density. Among the influencing factors, trunk diseases(R2=0.302), trunk pests(R2=0.234), bark damage(R2=0.225), soil compaction(R2=0.248) and heart rot index were significantly correlated(P<0.01). Root growth space(R2=0.187), crown growth space(R2=0.103) and root density(R2=0.121) were significantly correlated with heart rot index(P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between trunk inclination(R2=0.011), crown shape(R2=0.013) and heart rot index(P>0.05). The heart rot of ancient elm trees in Hohhot initially occurred mainly in the pith and sapwood areas of the trunk, the heart rot was mainly caused by damage to the sapwood of the trunk in the early stage of heart rot, but the heart rot in the pith was more serious. The trunk health of the ancient elm trees gradually declined with the growth of the trees, and the decline rate accelerated when the trunk appeared rot or cavities. The heart rot of ancient elm trees had a significant correlation with health indicators and environmental indicators, but not with the morphological indicators of ancient trees. Root density was also an important factor affecting the heart rot of ancient trees. Therefore, the health status of ancient elm trees should be assessed in time, and intervention treatment and repair should be done timely, the tree body should be protected from damage, and internal damage detection in the trunk should be strengthened, the physical space required for the growth of ancient trees should be reasonably planned, and the soil should be loosened in time to ensure its sufficient growth space and nutrient supply, attention should be paid to the prevention and control of diseases and insect pests and the repair of bark damage of ancient elm trees, the occurrence of external environmental violations should be reduced, and the conservation effect of ancient trees should be improved.

Key words: Hohhot, ancient elm, heart rot characteristics, root distribution, Picus3 stress wave detection

CLC Number: