Question

Which one dies first when a ring of bark is removed
(a)Shoot
(b)Root
(c)None
(d)All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The total removal of bark is called girdling. All vascular plants, including trees, use two vascular tissues for the transportation of water and nutrients: the xylem and the phloem. Girdling results in the removal of the phloem, and that in turn results in the inability of the leaves to transport sugars to the roots. In this process, the xylem is left untouched, and the tree can still temporarily transport water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.

Complete answer:
Girdling is the process of removing the bark of a tree. As we already said girdling results in the removal of phloem, and death occurs from the inability of the leaves to transport sugars to the roots. Trees normally sprout shoots below the wound; if not, the roots die. Death occurs when the roots can no longer produce ATP and transport nutrients upwards through the xylem. Girdling temporarily stops tree growth. so when the bark is removed the roots will die first as they will starve without the sugar production by the leaves transported down. Ring barking techniques have been developed to impede sugar transport in the phloem, stimulating early flower production and increasing fruiting, and for controlling plant size, reducing the need for pruning, etc.

Additional Information: -Girdling is also used as a technique to force a fruit-bearing plant to bear larger fruit.
- The girdling of bark restricts the movement of nutrients to the roots, thus the carbohydrates produced in the leaves do not go to the roots for storage. Girdling temporarily stops tree growth.
-Girdling is a very effective method of killing plant tissues above the cut and the effects are almost immediate.
So, the correct answer is 'Root'

Note: -It is also used for the removal of an individual tree from an ecologically protected area without damaging surrounding growth.
-Accidental girdling is also possible and some activities must be performed with care. Saplings which are tied to a supporting stake may unintentionally be girdled as they grow
-Girdling is the traditional method of killing trees without felling them. Complete girdling i.e. bark removed from a band completely encircling the tree will certainly kill the tree.