Lignotuberous and epicormic buds are stress adaptations which can grow 4 m per annum and 300 mm per week using the capabilities of mature stem and root systems. Lignotuberous shoots are well-attached to root systems, but heavy, rapidly-growing epicormic shoots can fail. Both can be used to manipulate canopies. In a study conducted and discussed by Greg Moore, seedlings of Eucalyptus obliqua were heat stressed and decapitated in order to understand shoot production. In stressed trees, regeneration is from epicormic buds higher in the canopy, then lower branch epicormic buds, buds on the trunk, and finally lignotuberous buds, which are a last-resort survival mechanism. Understanding these shoots can be the difference between life and death for urban forest managers. Listen to the Science of Arboriculture podcast and then take the accompanying CEU quiz to check your knowledge. This quiz is worth 0.5 credits. (A, U, M, T, Bs)
CEUs for this quiz may be earned only once during the life of your certification.