Abstract
Natural connections (inosculations) by fusion of the vascular systems of two stems, branches, or roots allow trees to share water, nutrients, and photosynthesis products and influence tree growth, physiology and survival. Such inosculation may depend on tree proximity, stalk thickness, and environmental factors. How the occurrence of inosculation in Terminalia pendula stalk is influenced by tree girth classes, density, and topography in Akbarpur forest of Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, India was investigated. Observations were population of different tree species, girth at breast height (GBH) categorized into 60 cm girth classes, number of inosculated trees, and height of inosculation joint in 20 plots of size 0.1 ha laid in pediment, hillslope, and hilltop areas. T. pendula was the dominant species with 84.5% population (286.5 tree ha-1 in 319.5 tree ha-1 total population) and IVI value 187.8 among 18 species from 13 families. This species only showed inosculation. Population of all species combined, and total and inosculated T. pendula trees, and GBH were highest (p < .05) in the pediment and 30–60 cm girth class. Population density and inosculation height were lowest on the hilltop, whereas GBH was lowest on the hillslope. The frequency of inosculated trees varied from 7.7 to 22.0% (hilltop-pediment) in topographical conditions and from 10.0 to 19.1% (<30 cm—30–60 cm) in girth classes and were positively influenced by tree density and GBH of T. pendula. This signifies the importance of tree density and GBH in promoting inosculation by supporting a closed canopy and rubbing the bark under wind action. Thus, inosculation appears an advantageous trait to arborists for developing green infrastructure in urban areas by promoting closed canopy plantations. However, physiological connectivity and mechanical insight of the stems/branches of this species require to be studied by conducting further research.
Cite this article as: Singh, K., Kumar Trigunayat, S., & Singh, G. (2024). Inosculation in terminalia pendula - a beneficial trait for devising green infrastructure to mitigate climate change: A case study from bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Forestist, Published online November 21, 2024. doi: 10.5152/ forestist.2024.24020.