An Ion Profile of Wounded Red Maple

Abstract

Twelve red maple trees (Acer rubum) with multiple drill wounds were studied to determine the ion content of tissues associated with wounds. Water extracts of sapwood, discolored wood, and the boundary layer between them were analyzed for ion content by ion chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total phenols, extract electrical resistance, pH, and total soluble dry matter were also determined. There were greater accumulations of K+, Ca2+, acetate, oxalate, formate, and phenols in the boundary tissue than in sapwood. Discolored wood had increased levels of K+, acetate, malate, oxalate, and formate compared to sapwood. The organic anions seem to occur as acids in the discolored wood and as K-salts in the boundary tissue.