The CODIT Principle

Wound reactions of trees

and consequences for arboricultural practice

Prof. Dr. Dirk Dujesiefken

Institute of Arboriculture

Hamburg

from:

Shigo & Marx 1977

From:

Shigo & Marx 1977

C Compartmentalisation

O of

D Damage

I in

T Trees

Desiccation

Dysfunction

Decay

The CODIT-Principle

The four phases of defense after wounding:

• Phase I - invading air and dessication

• Phase II - invading of microorganisms

• Phase III - spread of microorganisms within the wood

• Phase IV - wound closure (encapsulation of the decay)

(Dujesiefken/ Liese 2015: The CODIT Principle. ISA/US)

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Phase III

Phase III

Phase III

Phase III Phase IV

The compartmentalisation depends on

• Tree species

• Type of the wound

• Time of wounding

• Wound treatment

Compartmentaliser

weak

•Aesculus

•Betula

•Fraxinus

•Malus

•Picea

•Populus

•Prunus

•Salix

effectiv

•Carpinus

•Crataegus

•Fagus

•Gleditsia

•Platanus

•Pinus

•Taxus

•Ulmus

The CODIT Principle

• for a better understanding of trees

• how trees grow

• and how they defend themself

– Tree species

– Type of wound

– Time of wounding

– Wound treatment

for healthy and safe trees in our cities