Detecting Glucose in the Phloem to Quickly Define Latent Post-Fire Mortality in Pinus Trees in Northern Italy

Abstract

Background. Wildfires may cause serious injuries to the anatomical structure of trees that can lead to tree death or long-lasting injury recovery, limiting their growth and vitality for several years. Post-fire management involves a wide range of measures aimed at recovering and restoring burnt areas. Usually, the first step is “salvage logging”, i.e., the removal of irremediably injured trees. The burn severity depends on several parameters and is variable within the burnt area. For this reason, in some areas, the death of apparently healthy individuals has often been observed even after several years. This study aims to assess delayed/latent mortality by analyzing glucose like a tracer in wood by using a blood glucometer and HPLC. Results. The glucose in the phloem, cambium, and last xylem rings was measured using a glucometer developed for measuring glucose in the blood. The adopted approach detected glucose concentrations that were recognizable for different functional levels of the trees. Conclusions. The glucometer was suitable to detect the glucose in wood and phloem in order to define the death or health of the disturbed and undisturbed trees post-fire. Further investigations are required to find new solutions for a rapid evaluation of the abiotic and biotic factors that influence tree functionality in the forest. This approach will be used to predict the probability of the death of the individuals injured, which would improve the efficiency and the economy of recovery operations.