Certified Arborist Practice Exam

What do Epicormic shoots indicate?

1. Healthy growth

2. Stress response

3. Old age

4. Genetic mutation

The correct answer is: Stress response

Epicormic shoots are typically a response to stress conditions faced by a tree. When a tree experiences stress, such as damage, poor growing conditions, or changes in its environment, it may activate dormant buds that lie beneath the bark, resulting in the growth of these shoots. This phenomenon indicates that the tree is attempting to recover and adapt to its circumstances. In contrast, healthy growth is typically characterized by normal leaf and branch development without the sudden emergence of shoots from dormant buds. Old age can lead to various growth patterns, but epicormic shoots are not a definitive sign of aging; instead, they are a reaction to stressors. Similarly, genetic mutations can occur in trees but are not specifically indicated by the presence of epicormic shoots; rather, these shoots are primarily associated with the tree's response mechanisms to adverse conditions.