Which symptom below indicates girdling by rope or vine, aside from the limb pinching?

Which symptom below indicates girdling by rope or vine, aside from the limb pinching?

• A. Excessive shoot growth below the constriction point.
• B. Leaves turning yellow in summer.
• C. Branches growing directly upward with no constriction.
• D. Stem diameter increasing above the girdle.

Answer: (A)

Girdling blocks the transport of sugars in the phloem, so carbohydrates produced in the leaves can’t reach the roots. That buildup of sugars beneath the constriction often shows up as excessive shoot growth just below the girdle, a noticeable response as the plant tries to push growth in the area where flow is blocked. Other signs, like leaves turning yellow in summer, lack of constriction-related growth, or a stem that thickens above the girdle, aren’t typical or reliable indicators of rope or vine girdling.

Girdling blocks the transport of sugars in the phloem, so carbohydrates produced in the leaves can’t reach the roots. That buildup of sugars beneath the constriction often shows up as excessive shoot growth just below the girdle, a noticeable response as the plant tries to push growth in the area where flow is blocked. Other signs, like leaves turning yellow in summer, lack of constriction-related growth, or a stem that thickens above the girdle, aren’t typical or reliable indicators of rope or vine girdling.