When a wound remains open, what happens to discoloration?

When a wound remains open, what happens to discoloration?

• A. Discoloration stops progressing and may fade.
• B. Discoloration continues to advance and may not affect new growth rings.
• C. Discoloration affects only the outermost growth rings.
• D. Discoloration appears instantly on all rings.

Answer: (B)

When a wound stays open, moisture and organisms can keep moving into the wood, so the discoloration from decay or staining continues to advance through the tree as time passes. The tree keeps forming new growth rings at the outer edge, so those newer rings can be laid down after the infection front has not yet reached them. In other words, the discoloration progresses inward with time, but the most recent growth rings may remain unaffected for a period. This is why the statement that discoloration continues to advance and may not affect new growth rings best describes the situation.

When a wound stays open, moisture and organisms can keep moving into the wood, so the discoloration from decay or staining continues to advance through the tree as time passes. The tree keeps forming new growth rings at the outer edge, so those newer rings can be laid down after the infection front has not yet reached them. In other words, the discoloration progresses inward with time, but the most recent growth rings may remain unaffected for a period. This is why the statement that discoloration continues to advance and may not affect new growth rings best describes the situation.