A few weeks ago I received an unusual, “mysterious” beech wood (Fagus silvatica L.). The wood comes from the beech forest from the Pomeranian region in Poland. There are dark streaks along the entire cross-section of the beech trunk. They slightly resemble small knots on the tangential sections, but in reality, they are distended and corky (suberinated ?) wood rays. I did not find any changes on the bark surface, changes typical of the combined activity of insects and fungi (e.g. Cryptococcus fagisuga and Neonectria faginat). I am trying to find out what is the reason for the unusual appearance of the beech wood. Maybe Someone has already encountered such a strange appearance and knows the basis (reasons) of its formation in beech wood.
I see in one the photos, a close up view of the black, erumpent structures or tissues. You may try looking for intact similar structure, blade off or cut off the top very carefully, and see under the microscope for the presence of gel-like thing inside. Carefully scoop using a very fine needle and place on a glass slide with mountain. Add cover slip and see under the microscope for the presence of fungal structures. This is done to associate the black structure with the one generated by either a coelomycetous or an ascomycetous fungus.
Hello, according to book in Polish "Wood Defects" Robert Kimbar, it can be also brewing wood (in Polish "zaparzenie"). It is colour changes of wood caused by biochemical transformations in the parenchyma cells of heartwood-less species.
How common is this 'deformation' encountered in beeches? To me, it looks like internalized (inappropriate?) formation of bark, perhaps as a defense reaction to a pathogen/microbe/arthropod or physiological injury.
I've tweeted this question to a tree dendrochronologist, pathologist, and entomologist: https://twitter.com/stephenmarek2/status/1370021563332919298
Thank you for all the tips and Stephen helping me spred my question on Twitter.
I answer Stephen question:
I know about three such cases (three trees with changed wood) in the entire rorest district. This is rare phenomenon. According to the local forester, these trees were the same from the outside as the others beech. The changed wood was a suprise every time after the tree was felled.
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