ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to discuss findings on the anatomical and epidemiological consequences of wounding in peach trees and to draw attention to other investigations that are relevant to host-pathogen interactions. It focuses on anatomical aspects of wound response as it occurs in reaction to injuries of the living tissues of the inner bark. The living inner bark of a tree is composed of secondary phloem and periderm tissues. In addition, cortical tissues fulfill an important role in the bark of young stems. The process of establishing boundaries in the infection court between healthy tissues and the external environment confers resistance to infection in many host/pathogen interactions. Aspects of the anatomy of wound closure and microenvironment during the process of wound closure may help explain the apparent latent colonization of woody tissues by some canker-causing fungi. Well-designed time course studies with adequate controls are required in order to completely characterize wound related phenomena.
