Rubber flow
Rubber flow (also known as gummosis or gummosis is) a disease of deciduous trees , preferably stone fruit trees of the genus Prunus ( cherry , apricot , prune etc.).
Damage
Due to the liquefaction of wood parts, especially young wood , foci of disease form under the bark, which secrete a rubber-like, colorless to amber-colored liquid, which then emerges between the bark pieces on the branches and trunk. The liquid consists of various sugar compounds and acids .
causes
The main cause is a physiological disturbance of the tree, which among other things can affect the water balance . But frost, bacteria, injuries and fungi, especially of the Hallimasch ( Armillaria ) genus , can contribute to the flow of rubber.
Effects
Twigs and branches die off after a while. In the case of young trees, the trunk can also die off in rare cases.
activities
- Curative measures : cut back the sick twigs and branches, in an emergency the whole tree must be felled.
- Preventive measures : damp / frosty locations, injuries and direct irrigation of the crown are to be avoided.
use
In the past, cherry and plum gum was sometimes used instead of gum arabic to make gallus ink . But sometimes it was added to high quality rubbers as a cheap raw material.
