Branch Stubs Research Articles

The relationship between branch scar attributes and knot features in birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens)

There is currently no quality sorting of harvested hardwood timber in Norway on a national scale. Medium- and high-quality logs including those from birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh., B. pendula Roth) are thus not utilized according to their potential monetary value. Increased domestic utilization of quality birch timber requires that the quality of harvested logs be properly assessed for potential end uses. A preferred sorting procedure would use visually detectable external log defects to grade roundwood timber. Knots are an important feature of inner log quality. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether correlations between branch scar size and knot features could be found in Norwegian birch. Using 168 knots from seven unpruned birch trees, external bark attributes often showed strong correlations with internal wood quality. Both length of the mustache and length of the seal performed well as predictors of stem radius at the time of knot occlusion. The presence of a broken off branch stub as part of an occluded knot significantly increased the knot-effected stem radius, proving that the practice of removing branches and branch stubs along the lower trunk is a crucial measure if quality timber production is the primary management goal.

Predicting ecological impacts of invasive termites.

There are 28 invasive termite species, most belong to two families, the Kalotermitidae (esp. Cryptotermes spp.) and Rhinotermitidae (esp. Coptotermes spp.). Six invasive termite species are known to have spread into natural habitats, but little direct research has been conducted into their ecological impacts. Predictions based on indirect research (natural durability of commercial wood species) suggest fast-growing, pioneer tree species with low density wood, perhaps notably legumes, are most vulnerable to invasive termites, but even slow growing climax tree species may succumb. Cryptotermes will likely have less ecological impact, due to small colonies attacking dead branch stubs in the canopy. Coptotermes will likely have greater impact, due to large colony sizes and nesting in living trees, which they hollow out and can kill. There are no studies of invasive termites on native termites, other wood-eating insects, or predators, such as ants, showing considerable scope for future research.

Pengaruh Harga dan Kualitas Pelayanan Terhadap Kepuasan Konsumen (Studi Kasus Pada Rocket Chicken Cabang Jombang Satu)

The development of the world economy is increasingly consumer behavior change resulted in forward in terms of the fulfillment of his needs, this company must continue to innovate in creating strategy of price and quality of service interesting in order to maintain its existence. Customer satisfaction is one of the keys to the success of the company is very noteworthy. This research aims to know the influence of the price and quality of service of consumer satisfaction in the Rocket Chicken Branch Stubs. Research methods used in this research is quantitative research methods and the type of survey research (research survey) with the data analysis techniques using multiple linear regression techniques. the population in this research is the entire consumer Rocket Chicken Branch Stubs one by the number of samples taken as many as 100 respondents. Research results showed partially prices and service quality to customer satisfaction, while simultaneously the price and quality of services to the satisfaction of the consumer. should party Rocket Chicken Branch stubs pay attention to pricing and quality of service in order to increase customer satisfaction.

A Comparison of Fatigue Life Improvement Methods for an Existing Offshore Jacket Platform Structure

Most offshore Jacket platforms are installed in shallow water, less than 300 meters for drilling and production of oil or gas. They are normally fixed to seabed and constructed as three dimensional frameworks with tubular members as structural elements. The surrounding environment around offshore platform is affected by various environmental loads that comprise of wind, waves, currents and earthquake. The major load in such structures is wave loading, repetitive in nature which causes time varying stresses that results global and or local fatigue damage on the offshore steel structure. This study includes fatigue assessment of a selected jacket structure using ANSYS software. This study concentrates mainly on the stress reduction at joints by various methods under the applied cyclic loading. The various methods considered in this study are providing: joint cans with branch stubs, grouted connections, FRP wrappings, stiffeners at the joint section. A comparison of various methods for reducing the hotspot stresses which increases fatigue life are studied and the most effective one is recommended.

A new genus of Cryphonectriaceae isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa in southern China

Numerous species in the Cryphonectriaceae have been recorded on the Myrtales and many of these are economically important pathogens of Eucalyptus. Some species have also recently been shown to be endophytes of native Myrtaceae and to have undergone host jumps to infect Eucalyptus species established as exotics in plantations. Recent surveys in the GuangDong and HaiNan Provinces of South China reveal the presence of a species of Cryphonectriaceae associated with cankers on trees of Lagerstroemia speciosa (Lythraceae, Myrtales). Fungal structures were observed on the surface of dead bark covering cankers and on branch stubs. Multigene phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on DNA sequence comparisons of the partial LSU gene, ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene and two regions of the β‐tubulin (BT) gene. The results revealed the presence of a previously undescribed genus and species in the Cryphonectriaceae. The fungus is described here as Chrysomorbus lagerstroemiae gen. et sp. nov. Inoculation tests showed that it is an aggressive pathogen on L. speciosa and that it can also infect Eucalyptus.

Factors affecting branch wound occlusion and associated decay following pruning – a case study with wild cherry (Prunus avium L.)

Pruning wild cherry ( Prunus avium L.) is a common silvicultural practice carried out to produce valuable timber at a veneer wood quality. Sub-optimal pruning treatments can permit un-occluded pruning wounds to develop devaluing decay. The aim of this study is to determine relevant branch, tree and pruning characteristics affecting the occlusion process of pruning wounds. Important factors influencing occlusion time for an optimised pruning treatment for valuable timber production utilising wild cherry are derived. 85 artificially pruned branches originating from ten wild cherry trees were retrospectively analysed. Branch stub length, branch diameter and radial stem increment during occlusion were found to be significant predictors for occlusion time. From the results it could be concluded that for the long term success of artificial pruning of wild cherry it is crucial to ( i ) keep branch stubs short (while avoiding damage to the branch collar), ( ii ) to enable the tree to maintain significant radial growth after pruning, ( iii ) to avoid large pruning wounds (>2.5 cm) by removing steeply angled and fast growing branches at an early stage.

First Record of Thyronectria pinicola on Pinus radiata in Australia

Neonectria fuckeliana (C. Booth) Castl. & Rossman is the cause of nectria flute canker of exotic Pinus radiata plantations in New Zealand and Chile, where sunken cankers are associated with pruned branch stubs (Dick and Crane 2009; Morales 2009). The bright colored (red), superficial, aggregated perithecia are typical of the Nectriaceae (Hirooka et al. 2012). Nectria flute canker is a key biosecurity threat to Australia’s 1 million ha of exotic Pinus plantations, where annual surveys are conducted over the majority of the estate (Carnegie et al. 2008). During the course of forest health surveys in southeastern New South Wales, Australia, in October 2012, fruiting bodies typical of the Nectriaceae were detected on a dead P. radiata tree near Bombala. Teleomorphic structures were not observed, only anamorphic. Morphological features of the stromata (erumpent, orange to red), pycnidia (aggregated in groups of 3 to 10, superficial, subglobose, cerebriform to slightly cupulate, red to bay), and conidia (hyaline, ellipsoidal to oblong, nonseptate, 2.5 to 3.5 × 1 to 1.5 μm) corresponded to the description of Thyronectria pinicola (Kirschst.) Jaklitsch & Voglmayr (syn. Pleonectria pinicola) (Hirooka et al. 2012; Jaklitsch and Voglmayr 2014). Ascomata were selectively removed from bark with sterile forceps and DNA was extracted using the UltraClean Plant DNA Isolation Kit (MoBio Laboratories, Solana Beach, CA, USA). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA were amplified with ITS1F/ITS4 and LROR/LR7 as done by Hirooka et al. (2012). The ITS and LSU sequences were 100% identical to isolates of T. pinicola included in the studies by Hirooka et al. (2012). Specimens DAR 80239 (GenBank Accession Nos. ITS: KP751376, LSU: KP751378) and DAR 80240 (GenBank Accession Nos. ITS: KP751375, LSU: KP751377) were 100% identical to T. pinicola HM484540 (596/596 identities) and JF832615 (460/460 identities) in the ITS region, and 100% identical to HM484567 (801/801 identities) and JF832747 (795/795 identities) in the LSU region. Collections previously assigned to Nectria balsamea are now recognized as three distinct species that correlate to host plants: Thyronectria balsamea (Cooke & Peck) Jaklitsch & Voglmayr on Abies spp.; T. boothii (Hirooka, Rossman & P. Chaverri) Jaklitsch & Voglmayr on Picea spp.; and T. pinicola on Pinus spp. (Hirooka et al. 2012; Jaklitsch and Voglmayr 2014). T. pinicola is known from several Pinus spp. in the Northern Hemisphere, including Germany, Japan, and the USA, while T. balsamea is only known from Abies in North America and T. boothii from Picea in Slovakia (Hirooka et al. 2012). A search of Australian (http://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au) and New Zealand (http://nzfungi2.landcareresearch.co.nz) fungal herbaria indicates no previous records of T. pinicola in either of these countries, nor any nectriacous species on Pinus in Australia. This appears to be the first record of T. pinicola from Oceania, and also from P. radiata, the most important softwood plantation species in temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Further surveys have revealed T. pinicola on fire-damaged and wind-blown P. radiata in several major pine-growing regions in New South Wales. Although T. pinicola is not considered a primary pathogen, this finding illustrates the benefit of forest health surveys in supplementing biosecurity surveys to detect biosecurity threats.

Grade and value variations in Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis veneer due to variations in initial plantation spacings

SummaryProcessing young, small-diameter eucalypt logs into veneer is a burgeoning industry across southern China. However, plantations supplying these logs are mostly managed on silvicultural regimes which are appropriate for pulpwood and little information is available on alternative regimes for eucalypt plantations with respect to veneer yields and quality. Log size along with a range of tree and log traits were assessed on 12-year-old eucalypts in six spacing treatments, ranging from 666 to 2 222 trees ha−1, in a field trial in southern China. Logs harvested from these were rotary peeled for veneer; recovery percentages plus a range of quality and value traits were assessed on the outturn. Log volumes, small-end diameters and individual log values varied significantly between spacing treatments, but total veneer recoveries (as a percentage of log volume) and veneer values per unit volume did not. The spacing treatment providing the highest veneer value per unit area was that with the highest stocking; 2 222 trees ha−1. Although the second logs (up from the butt log) had significantly lower average volume than butt logs, and they had significantly higher average value per unit volume because of higher average total veneer recovery (68.7%) compared with the butt logs (59.7%). A number of external log features were significantly correlated with veneer value per unit volume and total veneer-recovery percentage. In declining order of importance these were taper, sweep, number of visible epicormic stubs, number of bumps and visible branch stubs, and longitudinal growth strain in the outer-wood. Branch-related defects were the most important grade-limiting defect, limiting veneer sheet quality to D-grade for most sheets. Considerable improvement in veneer sheet quality may have been achieved by pruning either just before or after branch death. Mill-door prices for logs were calculated after accounting for processing costs obtained from the mill and averaged RMB774 m−3 (about A$126 m−3). Had the trees been pruned, simulations indicated that prices/values could be lifted by RMB60–128 m−3 (A$10–21 m−3) and RMB393–461 m−3 (A$63–74 m−3) for production of higher-quality structural veneer and appearance-grade face veneer, respectively. It appears feasible that improvement in mill-door log values is possible with production of appearance-grade face veneer, but this will require some improvement in log quality through silvicultural intervention with pruning. It will also require improvement in processing methods and reduction in the impact of log end-splitting on veneer quality.

Early investigations into the infection courts used by Neonectria fuckeliana to enter Pinus radiata stems

Nectria flute canker is a disease of Pinus radiata stems caused by the pathogen Neonectria fuckeliana occurring in the southern parts of New Zealand. In Northern Hemisphere countries where N. fuckeliana is endemic, it is commonly found in Picea and Abies spp. Open wounds, dead attached branches and branch stubs have been identified as the primary infection courts. Although in New Zealand the development of Nectria flute canker disease is associated with pruned branch stubs, recent studies suggest that this is not the only possible entry method as the fungus has been found in trees prior to pruning. Three field trials were established to examine the potential infection mechanisms for N. fuckeliana in P. radiata in New Zealand; including stem wounds and branch stubs. The difference between inoculations into the stem and into branch wood was clear. Inoculation of deep stem wounds resulted in the greatest fluting with 76% of trees inoculated developing cankers. Inoculation directly into stubs resulted in only small stem depressions that occurred in 17% of cases and the fungus was largely contained within the branch trace. Tree response to inoculation with either ascospores or conidia of the Acremonium anamorph gave similar results in terms of canker development and fungal spread within the stem. Tree response to inoculation was highly variable however: in one study 6% of trees did not respond to inoculation at all, while 26% produced severe cankers regardless of inoculation method. A more thorough understanding of the infection mechanisms of N. fuckeliana will contribute to the development of better disease management protocols to prevent infection and disease development in future plantation stock.

The Flight Periodicity, Attack Patterns, and Life History ofDryocoetes confususSwaine (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), the Western Balsam Bark Beetle, in North Central Colorado

Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, the western balsam bark beetle, is an important bark beetle associated with Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (subalpine fir) in western North America. Little information is available on the life cycle and ecology of this insect in Colorado. In this study in north central Colorado, we examined its flight periodicity, attack patterns, and life cycle in downed trees. Flight season, as indicated by pheromone-trap catches, began in early June. Peak flight was observed during early to mid-July. A second peak in flight was observed in some years, but its occurrence was not consistent. Preferred attack sites on downed trees were the underside or side of the log and through branch stubs. The life cycle for this beetle was completed in 2 years, consistent with earlier observations from British Columbia. Sex ratio was 1:1, but a higher percentage of males fly earlier in the season.

Structure, Biomass, and Productivity of a Late Paleocene Arctic Forest

ABSTRACT. Abundant fossil plant remains are preserved in the high-latitude late Paleocene Iceberg Bay Formation on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. Intact leaf litter lenses and permineralized, in situ logs and stumps offer for the first time an opportunity to determine the structure, biomass, and productivity of a redwood-dominated forest that grew in the polar regions of Nunavut (paleolatitude 75–80° N). Well-preserved fossil tree trunks were excavated to develop equations that describe the height, structure, and mass of the aboveground components of late Paleocene-age (approximately 55.8 to 58.7 million years old) Metasequoia (redwoods) trees. We then combined those data with measurements of the in situ stumps to determine the structure, biomass, and productivity of this polar fossil forest. The height of the canopy trees in the forest was calculated to be 32 ± 2 m. Abundant branch stubs that represent the remnants of living branches were found on a wide range of stem sizes including larger logs from...

Modeling the relationships among internal defect features and external Appalachian hardwood log defect indicators

As a hardwood tree grows and develops, surface defects such as branch stubs and wounds are overgrown. Evidence of these defects remain on the log surface for decades and in many instances for the life of the tree. As the tree grows the defect is encapsulated or grown over by new wood. During this process the appearance of the defect in the tree’s bark changes. The defect becomes flatter and its dimension changes. This progressional change in appearance is predictable, permitting the size and location of the internal defect to be reliably estimated. This paper concerns the development and analysis of models for the prediction of internal features. With the advent of surface scanning and external detection systems, the prediction of internal features promises to significantly improve the quality, yield, and value of sawn wood products.

Reduction of Patch Antenna Coupling by Using a Compact EBG Formed by Shorted Strips With Interlocked Branch-Stubs

<para xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> This letter presents a new type of planar electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) surface composed of short-circuited microstrips densely coupled with each other through interlocked branch stubs. With respect to a conventional mushroom surface, this structure exhibits a better space-wave decoupling performance due to the soft nature of the surface. With respect to other soft surfaces, like shorted strip already introduced in the literature, the present solution possesses better miniaturization properties, thus allowing the use of lower permittivity and consequent improvements when integrated in planar dense arrays. The experimental results demonstrate a decoupling until 38 dB in both planes for patches separated by only one half free-space wavelength. </para>

Comparison of the occurrence of rot in sawlogs from regrowth and mature stands of Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri)

SummaryKarri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) timber from old-growth forest has been highly valued for heavy engineering construction, special purpose rail track timbers, scantling for housing, mine guides, joinery, furniture and flooring. With changes to forest management, sawlogs from mature stands have been supplemented by sawlogs from regrowth stands. A survey was conducted to compare the quality of sawlogs from mature and regrowth stands in relation to incipient rot, established rot, other defects and market expectations for this species. Sawmill surveys of sawlogs from regrowth and mature stands were carried out in 1987 and 1992 respectively. These surveys showed that there was significantly more incipient rot, known locally as brown wood, and or wood rot in regrowth sawlogs than in sawlogs from mature stands, while there was significantly less kino in regrowth sawlogs. The most common defects in both log classes were the presence of kino and incipient rot. The most frequent infection points for wood rot fungi were branch stubs, borer galleries and scars (which may have been caused by Armillaria infection, fire damage or mechanical damage). Infection associated with branching was more common in regrowth sawlogs than in sawlogs from mature stands. In both log classes, scattered pockets of incipient rot and or established rot were most frequently associated with borer galleries. In regrowth sawlogs, when at least two-thirds of the whole cross-section of the log was affected by incipient rot and or established rot, it was associated with scars resulting from fire, Armillaria or mechanical damage. Since this survey was conducted, changes in Western Australian government policy have resulted in only regrowth forest being available for harvest.

Pruning and fertiliser effects on branch size and decay in two Eucalyptus nitens plantations

The effect of a high rate of fertiliser addition, (900 kg ha −1 nitrogen (N):150 kg ha −1 phosphorus (P)) on pruning associated decay was investigated at two N and P deficient sites in Tasmania, Australia. Decay infections from pruned stubs were found to be more common in trees that received additions of fertiliser N and P, but fertiliser addition was not found to have an effect on basic density, lignin or the concentrations of extractives. Crown depth, and branch size were greater, and kino production reduced on trees that received fertiliser N and P. The incidence of decay infections in the pruned branch stubs increased with the frequency of living and large branches. Hence, improved tree nutrition increased the longevity and size of branches, thereby leading to an increased incidence of decay infections.

Biological and chemical characteristics of "included sapwood" of Juniperus virginiana L.

Abstract The reddish-violet heartwood of Juniperus virginiana L. contains irregularly distributed and longitudinally oriented streaks of light-coloured wood, described as “included sapwood”. A histological study revealed that a blockage of the rays, which is caused by wounds often associated with tiny shakes, branch stubs and included bark, may lead to this anomaly. A study of fresh wood immediately after felling of the trees showed that “included sapwood” lacks physiological activity similar to the adjacent normal heartwood. Cellular UV-spectroscopic analysis revealed a secondary metabolism particularly of phenolic compounds in the pit membranes of tracheids during “included sapwood” formation, whereas the reddish-violet flavonoid compounds do not develop in this anomalous wood. Chemical analyses of petrol ether, diethyl ether, acetone and ethanol/water extracts of sapwood, “included sapwood” and heartwood showed that the accessory compounds cedrol, α-cedrene, widdrol, thujopsene and cuparene increased in “included sapwood” compared to sapwood. As opposed to the reddish-violet heartwood compounds, these sesquiterpenes turned out to be highly toxic against a brown-rot fungus in a bioassay. These findings justify defining “included sapwood” as a heartwood anomaly, since the important wood characteristics of this tissue obey the definition of heartwood rather than sapwood. This anomaly should no longer be a reason to exclude this type of wood from commercial utilisation.

Reconstruction of TertiaryMetasequoiaforests. II. Structure, biomass, and productivity of Eocene floodplain forests in the Canadian Arctic

Abundant fossil plant remains are preserved in the high-latitude middle Eocene deposits of the Buchanan Lake Formation on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada. Intact leaf litter, logs, and stumps preserved in situ as mummified remains offer an opportunity to determine the structure, biomass, and productivity of two Taxodiaceae-dominated forests that grew north of the Arctic Circle (paleolatitude 75–80°N). We excavated fossil tree trunks and treetops to develop equations that describe the height, structure, and mass of the aboveground components of Eocene-ageMetasequoiatrees. We combined those data with surveys of in situ stumps to determine the structure, biomass, and productivity of two fossil forests, “N” and “HR.” We calculated a canopy height of 40 ± 3 m for the N forest and 25 m ± 2 m for the HR forest. Buried knots in dissected logs and abundant branch-free bole wood indicate that these were tall, closed-canopy forests. Stem tapers indicate that the overstory was of uniform height. Stem volume equaled 2095 m3ha−1and stem biomass was 628 Mg ha−1in the N forest. Volume and biomass in the HR forest were much smaller, 211 m3ha−1and 63.3 Mg ha−1, respectively. We estimated understory tree biomass to be 40 Mg ha−1in the N forest and 3.5 Mg ha−1in the HR forest. Recovery of seven fossil treetops with exposed branch stubs enabled us to make estimates of branchwood and foliar biomass using allometric equations derived from modern, plantation-grownMetasequoia glyptostroboides. Estimated stand-level branch biomass was 13 and 6.7 Mg ha−1in the N and HR forests, respectively. Standing foliar biomass was estimated to be 3.2 and 2.1 Mg ha−1in the N and HR forests, respectively. Using annual ring widths, the reconstructed parabolic stems, and wood density of modernMetasequoia, we calculated annual wood production to be 2.3 Mg ha−1yr−1for the N forest and 0.55 Mg ha−1yr−1for the HR forest Assuming that the ancientMetasequoiawere deciduous like their living relatives, annual aboveground net primary productivity was 5.5 Mg ha−1yr−1for the N forest and 2.8 Mg ha−1yr−1for the HR forest. Our estimated biomass and productivity values for N are similar to those of modern old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest of the United States and old-growth coastal Cordillera forests of southern Chile.

Decay, stains, and beetles in ice-storm-damaged forests: A review

A potential long-term threat to ice-damaged forests exists from decays, stains, and wood-boring insects. Damage to large branches or to the main stem can result in heartwood decay, particularly in older or less healthy trees. However, in branch stubs with a diameter of less than 7.5 cm, decay progresses to only a limited degree. Stem damage is not usual after ice storms. However, sunscald is common in sugar maple stands with damaged crowns, sometimes resulting in infection by the sap rot fungus Cerrena unicolor. Fungi of the genera Ophiostoma, Ceratocystis and Ceratocystiopsis (blue stains) can cause significant staining to standing timber in damaged softwood stands; however, these fungi do not cause structural damage. Bark beetles (scolytidae) and wood-borers (buprestidae and cerambycidae), which attack damaged trees in northeastern North America are normally secondary invaders. However, thinning of the canopy from ice damage could cause increased infestation by these insects. Key words: ice storm, decay, fungi, beetle

Tree hollow development in wet and dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest in south-east Queensland, Australia

Summary Tree hollow development was studied in Eucalyptus pilularis (blackbutt) and Eucalyptus microcorys (tallowwood) in wet sclerophyll forests, and Eucalyptus signata (scribbly gum) in dry sclerophyll forest in south-east Queensland, Australia. In all three tree species hollow development appeared to be primarily initiated by fungal infection entering trees through dead branches and/or branch stubs rather than from fire scars. The process of hollow development appeared to commence when the trees were around 100 years old. The size and abundance of hollows increased with the size and age of the tree but there were apparent differences between species. Hollows were found in the majority (>50%) of E. pilularis trees above 100 cm dbh. By contrast most E. microcorys and E. signata larger than 80 cm dbh had hollows. There was a similar difference between species in the numbers of hollows present in trees of different size. E. pilularis trees 100–110 cm dbh had two hollows per tree but this number were present in much smaller E. microcorys or E. signata trees. The rate of growth of E. pilularis is faster than either E. microcorys or E. signata and the rate of hollow formation appears to be dependent on the growth rate of the species. This suggests that hollows begin to develop after comparable times in the different species although the time taken for large hollow development differs between the species. The analyses suggest that the smallest arboreal marsupials and hollow dependent birds could recolonise regrowth E. pilularis trees after about 165 years but hollows suitable for larger animals would not be available for around 210 years. This time frame would be longer for slower growing species of trees. Some of the implications of this work in connection with management practices that aim to ensure the maintenance of hollow-dependent fauna in these forests are discussed.

Predicting pruned branch stub occlusion in young, coastal Douglas-fir

Time is required after pruning tree branches until radial stem growth occludes individual branch stubs. Foresters and planners need improved understanding of factors affecting occlusion time and distance so they can better forecast yield of clear wood and returns on pruning investments. This study examined occlusion of 335 pruned branches from 38 coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees sampled from 13 stands that were pruned between age 9 and 22. Regression models were developed for predicting number of years to occlude, the width of the occlusion region, and radius-over-occlusion which is the distance from the stem pith to the onset of clear wood production. Study results indicate that years to occlude is a function of stem size, stub length. stem growth rate, live or dead branch condition, and whether pruning produced smooth or nonsmooth cuts. Distance to occlude is a function of stem size, stub diameter. stem growth rate, live or dead branch condition, and whether pruning produced smooth or nonsmooth cuts. Radius-over-occlusion is a function of stem size, stub length, stub diameter, stem growth rate, and whether pruning produced smooth or nonsmooth cuts. Resume: II doit s'ecouler un certain temps apres que les branches d'un arbre aient ete elaguees pour que chacun des chicots soit recouvert suite a la croissance radiale du tronc. Les forestiers et les amenagistes ont besoin d'avoir une meilleure