THE COMPOSITION OF AIR IN TRUNKS OF SUGAR MAPLE IN RELATION TO DECAY

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Abstract
The internal air of maple trunks was found to vary considerably in composition, particularly in decaying trees. In all cases carbon dioxide occurred in much larger, and oxygen in smaller amounts than in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide content was highest in the summer and lowest in midwinter, oxygen varying reciprocally. Diurnal variations were also noted. Growth of maple rot fungi on malt agar was favored by carbon dioxide in concentrations found in living trees. In several cases, optimum concentrations were of the order of 10%, growth being approximately double that in carbon dioxide-free air. Oxygen had little effect within the range of concentrations occurring in trees. It is concluded that aeration is probably not an important factor in the development of decay, poor aeration tending to be stimulating rather than inhibiting.