![]() The bacteria and pathogens can spread to surrounding trees. ![]() The slime flux disease causes a constant odor, and bleeding cankers on the base of the tree. The seepage is typically a sour smell that comes from the trunk of the tree. Slime flux or more commonly known as Wet wood is a seepage of the wood that is unseen by the human eye. The main “pest” you will need to be concerned with are borers. Additionally, the “hungry insects” are most likely harmless. Removing bark from the affected area will reduce damage to an individual tree. For urban trees, maintaining vigorous, healthy growing conditions (thorough watering, mulching around the base and adding compost to the drip line) and avoiding wounds will reduce the probability that trees will be affected by this disease. In the forest, practices that minimize wounding will reduce the spread of this disease. With prompt and continuous treatment, the tree should survive. The excess sap should be wiped from the tree to discourage hungry insects. The wound should be disinfected with rubbing alcohol or a household bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. There is no cure, but the bark of a tree is like skin. Species of Prototheca have been isolated from slime fluxes. and Luteimonas aestuarri have also been isolated from wetwood in various tree species. Xanthomonas spp., Argobacterium spp., Acinetobacter spp., Corynebacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., Clostridium spp., Edwardsiella spp., Klebsiella spp., Lactobacillus spp., Methanobacterium spp., Brevundimonas bullata, Paracoccus spp. Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. The bacteria are commonly found in water and soils. Causal agentsĬausal bacteria for the initial wetwood varies depending on the species of tree. This sap flux may be further infected by other pathogens once exposed to the air such as air-borne bacteria, yeast, and other fungi, at which point it is known as slime flux. Eventually, the pressure will cause the sap and gasses to burst through the xylem and out of cracks in the trunk and ooze down the side of the tree. This accumulation of liquid and gas causes that part of the tree to have a damp, dark brown appearance known as wetwood. Once inside the xylem, the internal pressure of the tree is raised, from the normal range of 5 to 10 psi (0.3 to 0.7 bar) up to 60 psi (4 bar), due to bacteria fermenting and emitting a gas mixture of methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. The flow of sap is periodic it may disappear and not reoccur or you may see it every year.Slime flux occurs when a wound is made in a tree trunk through things such as natural growth cracks, frost, insects, birds, lawn mowers, cat scratches, or pruning wounds, which causal bacteria can enter. Mix one-eighth cup of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water to make a final rinse. The best thing to do is to wash off the trunk to discourage bugs. Sweet-eating insects (wasps, bees, yellow jackets) would obviously be attracted to the damaged area. In either case, bacteria ferment the tree’s sap it seeps out and down to the ground. The infection can be in a wound on the trunk surface or it can be deeper inside the trunk. There are actually two types of slime flux: “alcoholic” and “acidic”. The oozing is called “slime flux” and is caused by a bacterial infection inside the trunk. It can happen on any tree which has been planted too deeply, burying the lower trunk. The condition is a common one on large oaks, poplars and maples. The ooze is usually surrounded by insects, some of whom seem inebriated! “My oak tree is oozing beer!” Homeowners often follow their noses to the base of an oak tree to find a puddle of yeasty smelling liquid.
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