What term describes pronounced excrescences of woody tissue due to irritation by alien organisms?

What term describes pronounced excrescences of woody tissue due to irritation by alien organisms?

• A. Galls
• B. Cankers
• C. Conks
• D. Burls

Answer: (A)

Galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissue produced when a plant is irritated by foreign organisms such as insects, mites, or certain fungi. The plant responds to the invader with localized cell growth, causing a pronounced swelling or lump that often surrounds or houses the pest. This direct link between tissue proliferation and irritation by external organisms is what defines galls. Cankers are dead, sunken areas on bark caused by pathogens or physical injury; conks are shelf-like fungal fruiting bodies on wood; burls are large, rounded swellings on trunks usually tied to stress or infection but not specifically driven by alien irritants.

Galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissue produced when a plant is irritated by foreign organisms such as insects, mites, or certain fungi. The plant responds to the invader with localized cell growth, causing a pronounced swelling or lump that often surrounds or houses the pest. This direct link between tissue proliferation and irritation by external organisms is what defines galls.

Cankers are dead, sunken areas on bark caused by pathogens or physical injury; conks are shelf-like fungal fruiting bodies on wood; burls are large, rounded swellings on trunks usually tied to stress or infection but not specifically driven by alien irritants.