WOUND RESPONSE IN THE STEM OF THE ROYAL PALM

Mechanical damage of a palm stem endangers physiological functions, su ch as water transport, and induces quality reduction due to discoloura tion. The wound response of a 35-year-old Royal palm (Roystonea regia) has been investigated in order to understand the protective mechanism s and the origin of the staining. Wounds were induced in the basal and top regions 21, 14, 7 and 1 day(s) before the palm was felled. As ini tial reaction phenolic compounds are deposited in few of the smaller g round parenchyma cells. Subsequently slime fills up metaxylem vessels and protoxylem tracheids of both regions, whereas tyloses only develop in vessels at the top. Additionally, phenolic compounds originate als o in phloem, vascular parenchyma, ground parenchyma and fibres.