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 Article:

Sick Seeds: Black Seed Rot and Slash Pines


This article is from Issue Spring 99 - Vol. 1 No. 2.

Download Article:   English Version      Spanish Version

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Just like you and me, trees can get sick. This can happen in many different ways. One way trees become ill is through an infestation of insects or fungi. This is what happens to a certain type of tree called slash pine. In this case though, it is not the actual tree which is affected, but the seeds. The scientists in this study decided to investigate why black seed rot occurs and what its effects are. 

Meet the scientists that contributed to this article:

"Science Topics" covered in this article:
  • Life Science

"Environmental Topics" covered in this article:
  • Growing and Using Trees and Other Plants (Students)
  • Protecting Trees and Other Plants (Students)

Regions covered in this article:
  • Alaska
  • Forest Products Lab
  • Intermountain
  • International Institute of Tropical Forestry
  • Northern
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Pacific Southwest
  • Rocky Mountain
  • Southern
  • Southwestern

"Thinking About Science Themes" covered in this article:
Specific 'Thinking About Science'Themes:
  »  Characteristics of Scientists

"Thinking About the Environment Themes" covered in this article:

Specific 'Thinking About the Environment'Themes:
  »  Disease

Specific "Thinking About Science" Themes:
  • Characteristics of Scientists

"Thinking About Environmental Themes" covered in this article:
Specific 'Thinking About the Environment'Themes:
  »  Disease

Specific "Thinking About the Environment" Themes:
  • Disease

NSE Standards covered in this article:
  • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (A)
  • Diversity and adaptations of organisms (C)
  • Understandings about scientific inquiry (A)

Science Benchmarks covered in this article:
  • Habits of Mind: Communication Skils
  • Habits of Mind: Critical-Response Skills
  • The Living Environment: Diversity of Life
  • The Living Environment: Interdependence of Life