Your tree may be wet due to a condition known as wetwood, which is caused by the presence of bacteria within the tree's wood.
Understanding Wetwood
Wetwood is a common condition where internal tree tissues become saturated with liquid. This moisture often seeps out through cracks, wounds, or even pores in the bark, making the tree appear wet.
The primary cause of this internal wetness, as noted in research, is the activity of bacteria. Specifically, wetwood is caused by a number of different species of bacteria that inhabit the wood tissue.
How Bacteria Cause Wetwood
Bacteria are microscopic organisms that can infect trees. For wetwood to occur, these bacteria must find a way to enter the tree's internal structure.
- Entry Through Wounds: Bacteria typically enter a tree through wounds. These can be openings in the bark or roots caused by various factors like mechanical injury, pruning cuts, insect damage, or severe weather.
- Root Wounds as Entry Points: Since the bacteria associated with wetwood are commonly found in the soil, root wounds are probably a significant point of entry for the infection. Bacteria present in the soil can easily access the tree's internal tissues through damaged roots.
Once inside, the bacteria multiply and ferment substances within the wood, producing gases and liquids that increase internal pressure and lead to the characteristic wetness.
Where Wetwood is Located
The bacterial infection and subsequent wetness are usually confined to specific areas within the tree's structure.
- Inner Sapwood and Heartwood: The infection is usually confined to the inner sapwood and heartwood. These are the older, central portions of the tree trunk and larger branches. While the effects might be visible on the exterior, the source of the wetness originates deep inside the tree.
In summary, if your tree appears wet, especially without recent rain or external wetting, it is likely exhibiting symptoms of wetwood, an internal condition triggered by bacterial infection entering through wounds.
