A Low-pressure, Trunk-injection Method for Introducing Chemical Formulations into Olive Trees

Abstract

A low-pressure injection method for introducing chemical formulations into trees is presented. The apparatus consists of a plastic injector and a tube providing a pressure of 60 to 80 kPa, which is below the injurious level for the xylem. The efficiency of the method was determined by injecting PTS, a marker of apoplastic flux dye solutions, and rubidium chloride into young trees, main scaffolds, or tree trunks. The depth of the hole drilled) and the number of injections necessary to distribute the solutions was also determined. The injected solutions moved mainly upward through the older rings of the xylem, suggesting that uptake is directly controlled by the transpiration rate. A single injection was enough to distribute solutions in scaffolds with a diameter of 8 cm, but two injections were necessary for 17-cm-diameter trunks. According to the results, the injection method was effective in introducing chemicals into olive (Olea europaea L.) trees. The method is easy to use, safe and economical and does not involve special equipment. Chemical name used: trisodium, 3-hydroxi-5,8,10-pyrenetrisulfonate (PTS).