| Abstract: | Wetwood taken from euramerican hybrid poplars (Populus×euramericana) generally contained large and diverse populations of bacteria. The distribution of bacteria within tissues was discontinuous in both radial and axial directions. Most of the common bacterial strains were capable of altering wood components. The bacteria most consistently associated with wetwood were identified as Enterobacter and Clostridium species. The Enterobacter was hemicllulolytic and one Clostridium strain could degrade pectin in anaerobic conditions. These bacteria may play an important rote in the development of wetwood in poplar. |
