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Correlation between culm damage and varigation?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:04 pm
by dependable
So I noticed this culm on P a spectabilis that was damaged by snow plow last winter, and was thinking there may be a correlation between the culm damage and the variation that appeared in the new leaves it grew last season. This is near the edge of an established stand and there are no other variated leaves except on this damaged culm.

Makes one wonder if variegation could be a function of clogged or damaged culm water or nutrient path. Wondering if leaves are supplied different sections of culm, so damaged ones do not supply the corresponding section of those leaves?

Re: Correlation between culm damage and varigation?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:44 am
by Tarzanus
I have had similar occurrence of variegated culm which also grew much larger leaves than other culms. It was after a colder than average winter with some damage on Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' but the damage wasn't substantial. All plant had more variegation than usual that year, but that culm stood out even more.

Last two winters, we've had a bit more snow and the same kind of culm damage happened when the culms blew under the weight of wet snow. I cleaned the grove in the spring, but I noticed later that there were several damaged culms that remained. They somehow remained alive despite the intensive damage of the culm. There were green leaves with no variegation. Much less leaves (like 1/3 of normal leaf amount or even less) were all n the shaded part inside with very little light.

I doubt culm damage alone can cause variegation. I think it must be something environmental, most likely related to the winter temperature or the temperature in the spring. I have forgotten about the spring that year, but I think it was rather cold and slow to leave as well.

Re: Correlation between culm damage and varigation?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 1:40 pm
by dependable
There are hundreds of spectablis culms here, all under the same conditions, and that one damaged one is the only one with variegated leaves, and they are only past the damaged point in culm, which led to my speculation.

I was thinking I could test this by drilling many fine holes in a healthy culm and seeing if it leads to some variegation in the next season's leaves, ..wonder if I'll get around to it.

Re: Correlation between culm damage and varigation?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 3:12 pm
by needmore
Or snap a random sample in half and leave them!